You may not believe in the jolly man who flies around to hand out presents, but on Christmas Eve in 2012, we guarantee he was there, 400 kilometers above Earth, rocketing around the planet at 7.6 kilometers per second.

Chris Hadfield floated weightlessly through the International Space Station, playing Santa Claus, his crew fast asleep. Before the launch, he’d asked the crew’s families to write cards for their loved ones. Then there he was, hiding those messages for the other five astronauts to find on Christmas morning.

“Except, it wasn’t really Christmas morning, because when is morning (in space)?” Hadfield explains the complications of marking holidays while orbiting Earth every 92 minutes, seeing 16 sunrises each day.

We’ve celebrated the holidays with family in the Amazon and the Maasai Mara, pausing long enough to exchange gifts and catch up before returning to the build site, helping erect a school or dig a well. We know how important traditions are — even for those whose schedules demand unconventional Christmases. Seeking some perspective, we turned to Cmdr. Hadfield, who talked to us about turkey, trees, dessert and the crucial task of bringing Earth-bound traditions to outer space.

On the ground, tables are laden with sugar cookies and cakes. In the microgravity of the space station, crumbs pose a serious threat, and can clog ventilation filters. The solution was a dense — but divisive — treat. Hadfield’s crew enjoyed a traditional fruitcake on Christmas day.

“Strangely enough, it was made by Trappist Monks in the Ozarks (in the U.S.),” recalls Hadfield. “It kept beautifully, it’s not crumbly, so we just velcroed the package to the table and everyone could grab a little bit on the way by.”

In space, just like on Earth, this time of year is a chance to reset, and focus on our wellbeing and relationships

Compared to cutting-edge experiments and space walks, ensuring that holiday desserts can withstand space travel may seem frivolous. But in space, just like on Earth, this time of year is a chance to reset, and focus on our well-being and relationships. Fruitcake, stockings and tinsel are more powerful symbols to help mark this reflection than we realize — until we know that even astronauts turn to them in the cold recesses of space.

“For birthdays, for holidays, for deaths in the family, I treated it (all) very seriously because psychological health is fundamental to everything else being successful,” says Hadfield.

There was the special meal request: ready-to-eat turkey, reconstituted potatoes and processed vegetables. There was the two-foot-tall (61-cm) artificial Christmas tree, velcroed to a wall. There were personalized Christmas stockings stuffed full of chocolate and nuts.

Preparation for all holidays was vital to the mission. Hadfield’s American and Russian crew picked holidays from their respective cultures to celebrate, planning creative ways to make them both special and familiar.

Now home with his family, Hadfield is sharing that outlook with others, bringing that cross-cultural perspective to his forthcoming science-based variety show, Generator, premiering in Toronto in January.

Hadfield’s holiday in outer space offers a new perspective for terrestrial-bound merrymakers. Even floating through space, customs ground us.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day. For more dispatches from WE, check out WE Stories.

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-holiday-customs-abound-even-in-outer-space/feed0Chris Hadfield and the crew of the International Space StationcraigkielburgerNetflix reveals top shows for Canadians in 2017http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/netflix-reveals-top-shows-for-canadians-in-2017
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/netflix-reveals-top-shows-for-canadians-in-2017#respondMon, 11 Dec 2017 14:00:12 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=766157]]>I scream, you scream, we all scream for small screens! Need proof? In 2017, Netflix users around the world watched more than 140 million hours of content from the streaming service per day.

The company released a report Monday detailing Canadians’ viewing habits over the past year — what we binged, what we savoured, what we watched as families, and what shows we cheated on our partners with.

Canadian Netflixers are viewers par excellence: We rank second in the world for having the most members binging every day (Mexico is No. 1). The report also found that Jan. 1 was the most popular streaming day, and one hardcore viewer watched The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 361 times. Some other findings drawn from the period between Nov. 1, 2016, and Nov. 1, 2017:

SHOWS WE DEVOURED

Full-out binging, Canadians watched more than two hours per day of dramas like megachurch saga Greenleaf and Italian crime series Suburra: Blood on Rome.

1. Greenleaf

2. American Vandal

3. Suburra: Blood on Rome

4. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

5. Ingobernable

6. The Keepers

7. The OA

8. The Confession Tapes

9. Cable Girls

10. The Mist

Claire Foy in The Crown [Netflix]

SHOWS WE SAVOURED

Some things are better enjoyed at a slower pace — Netflix defines “savouring” as watching less than two hours per day. Visual feast The Crown placed No. 1, outranking lighter fare like Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later and Big Mouth.

1. The Crown

2. Neo Yokio

3. Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later

4. Ozark

5. A Series of Unfortunate Events

6. Glow

7. Friends from College

8. El Chapo

9. Atypical

10. Big Mouth

SHOWS THAT MADE US NETFLIX-CHEAT

We shamelessly watched buzzy series like Stranger Things and 13 Reasons Why ahead of our significant others. The crime dramas Narcos and Ozark also proved too good to wait for.

1. Orange is the New Black

2. Stranger Things

3. Narcos

4. Ozark

5. Riverdale

6. 13 Reasons Why

7. Marvel’s The Defenders

8. Grace and Frankie

9. The Crown

10. Black Mirror

Fuller House [Netflix]

MOST VIEWED AS A FAMILY

Shows with kids and teens at the fore proved popular as family viewing — Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why among them. Nostalgia, like the 1980s-set Stranger Things and rebooted sitcom Fuller House, also brought us together.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big Release on Dec. 15: Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Big Picture: Humanity awaits the much-needed distraction of a new Star Wars – largely to distract itself from whatever monstrous thing Donald Trump tweeted the night before. But make no mistake. The title, The Last Jedi, doesn’t bode well for our band of ragtag heroes in a galaxy far, far away.

Harrison Ford’s Han Solo took “centre nostalgia stage” in The Force Awakens. Now it’s Mark Hamill’s turn. Sporting hobo grizzle and steely eyes, Luke isn’t happy to be found in self-imposed exile on a depressing rock island. Skywalker seems decidedly on the Gray Side of the force – that limbo land where true Jedi and Sith go to haunt…until someone reminds them who they really are again.

You’re a hero, remember? You’re a merciless monster, remember? (By the time the credits roll, this giant will be awakened – but to the benefit of good or evil?) The Last Jedi could mean Luke goes Dark, Luke dies, or Rey (Daisy Ridley), goes Dark (expect Kylo Ren – Luke’s nefarious nephew – to make a good pitch). Either way, the title intones that one Jedi is left on the battlefield.

With a Han Solo origin story, and more spinoffs in the works, I’d like to take a moment to pitch the braintrust at Disney on the Star Wars movies I’d pay good money to see: SW: Diary of a Furry Kid, covering Chewbacca’s moody teenage years; SW: Castaway, a 180-minute indie film directed by Terrence Malick showing Luke silently brooding on his deserted rock for years, interspersed with artistic cuts of the universe being born and destroyed; SW: Sky City, a caper film set in the Lando Calrissian-run space metropolis; SW: Moon of Endor Kingdom: in which director Wes Anderson examines an oddball, dysfunctional Ewok family.

Forecast: The Last Jedi sure beats watching A Christmas Story for the 500th time because its “a family tradition.” Hamill will prove he hasn’t done much to improve his acting range since Return of the Jedi (1983).

Big Picture: Stefani leaves no doubt that her team understands the power of marketing. You Make it Feel Like Christmas is the title of this musical-variety special, the title of her new Christmas album, and the title of its first single, a duet with Blake Shelton – which just happened to debut on The Voice, the reality competition they both headline.

Meanwhile, you can also watch A Christmas Story Musical – a new live take on the 1983 movie starring the likes of Maya Rudolph and Jane Krakowski, and narrated by Matthew Broderick.

Finally, Netflix enters the world of Wormwood, a docu-drama from documentary guru Errol Morris. This six-part Netflix miniseries follows one man’s uncanny, six-decade investigation into the mysterious CIA-related death of his father — which blends real-life interviews with scripted scenes starring Peter Sarsgaard and Molly Parker.

Forecast: Get used to a never-ending series of live, musical events. Live programming is the last true thing network TV has left to offer. (I’m hoping CBC’s The National re-brands for a third time for an all-musical national newscast.)

Honourable Mention: Judd Apatow: The Return (Dec. 12, Netflix). The prolific comedy producer-and-writer (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin), returns to stand-up comedy after 25 years – teaching us all the benefit of breaking out of our comfort zones once every quarter of a century.

Eminem [Getty Images]

MUSIC

Big Release on Dec. 15: Eminem (Revival)

Big Picture: The real Slim Shady aims for revival just before the holiday season. The mercurial rapper releases 19 new tracks, including collaborations with Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Pink, and Alicia Keys. No, his anti-Trump freestyle, The Storm, from the 2017 BET Hip-Hop Awards is not on this effort, but don’t expect Eminem to shy away from his newfound political voice.

In his 1999 breakthrough, Slim Shady seemed angry at everything and everyone for no reason. But in an age of socially conscious rappers, led by the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Eminem’s rage seems trained on the America reflected in the vacuous eyes of the current occupant of the Oval Office.

Forecast: This album won’t be played at your holiday parties – at least not until the sixth glass of eggnog has been downed, and your family’s black-sheep uncle decides to deliver a soliloquy in defence of the alt-right. Then you’ll want to crank it.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-dec-11-star-wars-the-last-jedi-wormwood-and-more/feed0Star Wars: The Last Jedipostmedianews1Gwen Stefani: You Make It Feel Like Christmas Eminem5 tips for holiday donations and volunteeringhttp://o.canada.com/life/5-tips-for-holiday-donations-and-volunteering
http://o.canada.com/life/5-tips-for-holiday-donations-and-volunteering#respondThu, 07 Dec 2017 22:26:33 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=766145]]>As Cher Horowitz said in the 1995 cinematic epic Clueless, ’tis a far, far better thing doing stuff for other people. And now, as holiday cheer warms the coldest cockles of our hearts, the time is ripe to give back. And, it’s needed.

Canadians donated seven per cent less to charities in 2015 than they did in 2006, a drop of roughly $600 million, reports CanadaHelps, an online platform that lets do-gooders donate and fundraise for Canadian charities.

We’re also volunteering less. Looking at data from 2013, the latest available from national non-profit Volunteer Canada, formal volunteering dropped among Canadians between 2010 and 2013 — from 13.3 million people in 2010 down to 12.7 million in 2013.

Here are a few tips for sharing the love this holiday season.

1. SPREAD OUT YOUR GENEROSITY

Of the nearly $170 million in annual donations that CanadaHelps processes, more than a third comes in the last six weeks of the year. Though repeat airings of It’s a Wonderful Life may help foster the giving mood, some people are also rushing to claim charitable donations on their tax returns before year’s end.

“I’ve seen the cash crunch charities can have in the middle of summer while they’re waiting for November and December,” she says, “so I have been encouraging people to set up monthly donations at CanadaHelps, because you’ll avoid scrambling at the end of the year. And it’s fantastic for charities because they have a more predictable cash flow.”

[Tim Boyle/Getty Images]

2. GIVE HELP WHERE IT’S NEEDED

“The charities we talk to often tell us they can stretch a dollar more than they can a can of food,” says Glogovac. “So I would say that if people are donating items, they should check with the charity to make sure that they’re items they need.”

In terms of volunteering, opportunities with seniors and children may be limited, since there may already be volunteers who work with them year-round and have passed the required background checks.

“But there are many places that offer holiday meals and so on that are very happy to have people volunteer for food preparation, hosting, serving, cleaning, setup and all those things,” says Paula Speevak, president and CEO of Volunteer Canada.

3. THINK OUTSIDE THE GIFT BOX

“Rather than giving socks or a sweater, we suggest turning some of those gifts into a charitable gift — a gift you give as a tribute to someone on your list who may love a particular cause,” says Glogovac.

Gift cards are also popular on the CanadaHelps website. With a few mouse clicks and perhaps a sigh of relief, you can prepare a generic charity gift card in any denomination, which the recipient can then redeem with any charity registered with the organization.

Fundraising is also an option: “A lot of people are fundraising for charity instead of getting gifts. And they are asking their friends to help them,” says Glogovac, while Speevak adds that informal volunteering is proving popular.

“People might raise funds for a neighbour who needs to have their vanity redone to make it accessible, or organize an awareness event on Parliament Hill through social media,” she says. “People are self-organizing outside of organizations around issues and accomplishing things that are important.”

[Getty Images/iStockphoto]

4. GET THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED

“Many families choose to volunteer as a family, and many meal programs also encourage families to volunteer together. Sometimes it’s not feasible to volunteer in the community as a family, but you can do something that’s of benefit at home,” says Speevak.

For example, some animal shelters appreciate getting toys for their furry and feathered residents, and their websites often provide instructions. Kids can help with the handiwork at home, and everyone can deliver the toys together.

Another option that lets families help other families: Habitat for Humanity GTA has partnered with Realtors and The Canadian Real Estate Association for the website GingerbreadDreamHome.ca. There, Canadians can tour an imaginary home and donate towards a local Habitat for Humanity project. The deadline to donate is Dec. 13.

5. LEAD WITH YOUR VALUES

The giving season doesn’t have to end on Dec. 31. Speevak suggests taking time now to think about the issues that are important to you and how you want to help your community throughout the next year. The Volunteer Canada website or a local volunteering centre can provide ideas.

“There’s everything from painting sets for a local theatre company to teaching someone the skills involved in resume writing, to doing mock job interviews, to singing in a nursing home,” she says. “It’s endless, in terms of the things you can do.”

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/5-tips-for-holiday-donations-and-volunteering/feed0Charitymhank2012Donations5 things you might not know about … Elfhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/movies/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-elf
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/movies/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-elf#respondThu, 07 Dec 2017 22:05:30 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=766140]]>Will Ferrell’s jaunty yellow tights. Spaghetti drenched in maple syrup. An impromptu dance routine to Tag Team’s 1993 anthem Whoomp! (There it Is). These are just some of the things that make Elf, the 2003 film about a misfit seeking his dad, a holiday classic. Here are some things you might be surprised to learn about it.

1. The role of Buddy was meant for Jim Carrey

Carrey was attached to Elf when the initial script made the rounds in 1993. But 10 years of delays — and a little movie called Ace Ventura: Pet Detective — kept the rubber-faced actor from donning Buddy’s bright yellow tights. Will Ferrell signed on instead, fresh off his run on Saturday Night Live.

2. Ferrell was once a mall Santa

Before SNL, Ferrell spread holiday cheer by suiting up as the big guy himself — with fellow SNL cast member Chris Kattan as his elf. “It was hilarious because little kids could care less about the elf. They just come right to Santa Claus,” Ferrell told Spliced Wire. “So by the second weekend, Kattan had dropped the whole affectation he was doing and was like, ‘Santa’s over there, kid.’”

3. Director Jon Favreau made a couple cameos

Most people recognize Favreau as the doctor who gives Buddy his DNA test, but he also provided the voice for the narwhal that surfaces from the water when Buddy’s leaving the North Pole: “Bye, Buddy,” he says. “Hope you find your dad.” Producer Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in A Christmas Story, also made a cameo as an elf in Santa’s workshop.

4. Some store scenes were filmed in an insane asylum

The department store Buddy decorated is known as bright and shiny Gimbels onscreen, but the filming location in Vancouver had a very different history. “They gutted an old insane asylum and made it a sound studio,” Artie Lange, who played the surly department store Santa in Elf, told ABC News. The asylum also held sets for Walter’s apartment and the film’s prison cell, and previously hosted sets from The X-Files.

5. Ferrell’s jack-in-the-box reactions were real

When Buddy’s an unhappy toy tester in the North Pole, he anxiously timed each jack-in-the-box in the workshop and startled as each popped open. Favreau used a remote control to vary the timing, reports Mental Floss, making sure that Ferrell’s reactions were authentic.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/movies/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-elf/feed0Will Ferrell in Elfmhank2012Yule watch these 11 holiday TV specialshttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/yule-watch-these-11-holiday-tv-specials
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/yule-watch-these-11-holiday-tv-specials#respondTue, 05 Dec 2017 17:24:29 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=766122]]>As sure as Rudolph’s red nose is a beacon of cheer, and not the result of some seasonal infection, holiday TV specials abound. There’s something this year for just about everyone: classic films, live productions, musical extravaganzas and even puppy-filled programming. Here are 11 holiday specials to put a little fa-la-la-la-la in your step:

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Dec. 10 and Dec. 22, CBC)

The plucky felt critter brings all the holiday feels. This classic 1964 stop-motion film features Billie Mae Richards as the voice of Rudolph, Larry D. Mann as Yukon Cornelius and Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman — whose natty hat, plaid vest and impressive facial hair put all other hipster snowmen to shame.

Gwen Stefani’s You Make it Feel Like Christmas (Dec. 12, NBC)

Stefani puts her twist on the classic holiday special. Musical performances and holiday sketches fill the hour, with appearances by Chelsea Handler, Ken Jeong, Seth MacFarlane, Ne-Yo and of course the guy who’s the marshmallow to Stefani’s hot cocoa, Blake Shelton. She’ll also sing songs from her new album, You Make it Feel Like Christmas.

Gwen Stefani: You Make It Feel Like Chirstmas [NBC]

Taraji’s White Hot Holidays (Dec. 14, Fox)

During the rest of the year, Taraji P. Henson plays Cookie on Empire. But watch out, y’all — it’s time for Christmas Cookie. Henson hosts a musical special with artists including Chaka Khan, Ciara, Faith Evans, Fergie, Salt-N-Pepa and Ying Yang Twins. Immediately following is Showtime at the Apollo: Christmas, hosted by Steve Harvey. Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men, Fifth Harmony and DMX will perform, as well as would-be stars looking for their big break in a talent competition.

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! (Dec. 16, ABC)

Linus and Lucy’s younger brother ReRun turns to Snoopy for some holiday cheer when his sister starts stressing him out. But the beloved beagle has plans of his own, and as the plot unfolds, his brother Spike shows up for a visit. Shenanigans ensue.

Taraji P. Henson in Taraji’s White Hot Holidays []

A Christmas Story Live! (Dec. 17, City/Fox)

It’s a live TV adaptation of the most famous film involving a Red Ryder carbine-action two-hundred-shot range model air rifle. Inspired by the 1983 movie and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, A Christmas Story Live! stars Matthew Broderick, Maya Rudolph, Jane Krakowski, Chris Diamantopoulos and Ana Gasteyer. Ralphie, the kid with the perennially imperilled vision, is played by Andy Walken.

The Great Northern Candy Drop (Dec. 17 and Dec. 21, CBC)

This new animated special tells the true story of Inuk bush pilot Johnny May, who has flown over Kuujjuaq in Northern Quebec to drop candy, toys and warm clothing to children and residents during the holidays for more than 50 years. Featuring the voices of Tantoo Cardinal and Lorne Cardinal, and based on a children’s book published in 2015.

The Great Northern Candy Drop []

Murdoch Mysteries: Home for the Holidays (Dec. 18 and Dec. 25, CBC)

Do we detect some holiday spirit? Police officer William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) certainly does in the show’s third annual special. Murdoch and Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy) trek to Victoria, B.C., to visit Murdoch’s brother and investigate a murder connected to an archaeologist (Megan Follows) who found an ancient Indigenous settlement. The two-hour program will also screen Dec. 16 at Cineplex theatres in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Victoria, Winnipeg and Halifax.

A Home for the Holidays With Josh Groban (Dec. 19, CBS)

The titular singer hosts this annual special meant to bring attention to the issues of adoption and foster care. Inspirational stories are complemented by performances from artists including Kelly Clarkson, Kacey Musgraves and Kane Brown.

I Love Lucy Christmas Special [CBS]

I Love Lucy Christmas Special (Dec. 22, CBS)

No ’splaining necessary — everybody loves Lucy. Two back-to-back colourized episodes of the classic TV show air. In 1956’s The Christmas Episode, the Ricardos and Mertzes reminisce while they decorate a Christmas tree. Then 1955’s The Fashion Show, Lucy (Lucille Ball) spends way too much on a dress for a fancy runway show. Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi!

It’s a Wonderful Life (Dec. 24, NBC)

Countless TV shows and movies have paid homage to this 1946 film, and for good reason. It’s life-affirming stuff — just look at the title! James Stewart stars as a guy who wishes he’d never been born, only to be visited by an angel who shows him just how many lives he’s unwittingly improved. Excuse us while we ugly-cry into a box of Kleenex.

Super Cute Yule Log [Animal Planet/Bell]

Super Cute Yule Log (Dec. 24, Animal Planet)

Yes, there will be super-cute puppies and kittens. No, they won’t be tossed in some twisted holiday fireplace. What are we, barbarians? Instead of airing a looped video of a wood-burning fireplace, Animal Planet will broadcast a feed of furry friends in festive settings. Just try to handle the cuteness.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/yule-watch-these-11-holiday-tv-specials/feed0Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeermhank2012Gwen Stefani: You Make It Feel Like ChirstmasTaraji P. Henson in Taraji's White Hot HolidaysThe Great Northern Candy DropI Love Lucy Christmas SpecialSuper Cute Yule LogGlobal Voices: How Barâa Arar found herself through activismhttp://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-how-baraa-arar-found-herself-through-activism
http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-how-baraa-arar-found-herself-through-activism#respondTue, 05 Dec 2017 07:12:48 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=766098]]>Barâa Arar was five years old when her father, Maher, was taken.

Back then, she didn’t know he’d been detained by American authorities on a stopover in New York and sent back to Syria, the country of his birth, instead of home to Canada.

She was too young to understand that it was the RCMP who supplied the faulty intelligence that mistakenly tied him to terrorists.

And it would be years before she realized that he was never charged or convicted, yet for 10 months he languished in a rat-infested, grave-sized cell, emerging only for beatings and bouts of torture.

All she knew was that her father was gone.

Fifteen years later, what she remembers are the protests on Parliament Hill and on the steps of the American embassy, demanding his release. The long days with her tireless mother, Monia Mazigh, who emerged as her husband’s strongest advocate.

Maher Arar’s story has made its way back into the headlines countless times since he returned to his family in Ottawa in 2003 — as revelations about the role of the RCMP led to an official inquiry, as the intelligence community owned up to their mistake, and as the government apologized.

Most powerfully, he’s become a symbol trotted out in the news whenever Canadians are unfairly targeted or detained.

Maher Arar’s story has made its way back into the headlines countless times since he returned to his family in Ottawa in 2003 [Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun Files]

For Arar, who only learned the details of her father’s story from the press years later, it’s not reliving it that bothers her, it’s this tragic need for the retelling.

“What’s upsetting is that is has to be told, all these years later, because we’re raising awareness about another injustice,” Arar reflects. What happened to her father has happened to other Canadians: Abdullah Almalki, Muayyed Nureddin, Khaled Samy Abdallah Ismail— all Canadian citizens detained abroad and tortured over false accusations.

The Canadian government has since owned up to their involvement. Still, for Arar, it is clear: “We didn’t learn all the lessons,” she says.

Arar doesn’t refer to herself as an activist. She’s self-conscious of the title and would rather see others in the spotlight.

Still, she’s a focal point, partly because she is Maher Arar’s daughter and partly because she is an outspoken woman and a visible Muslim in an era of political and social division.

She’s become an unwitting symbol, too.

“Being a person of colour, being a Muslim woman who wears the hijab, or being anyone who identifies publicly with a minority group, that identity becomes politicized by others whether you like it or not.”

“Being a person of colour, being a Muslim woman who wears the hijab, or being anyone who identifies publicly with a minority group, that identity becomes politicized by others whether you like it or not,” she says.

And like her mother before her, she’s stepped into the role.

That’s why she wanted to be onstage at WE Day Ottawa, the youth empowerment event held a few weeks ago: to be a positive public presence for young women and young Muslims at a divisive time.

Arar still attends rallies. Now, it’s to perform her spoken-word poetry, to give voice to those creating space for immigrants and refugees.

She’s drawn lessons from both her parents and become more comfortable with her own voice, and her inherited role.

“It’s important for me to take the space that I’m offered,” she says. “You have more power than you think.”

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day. For more dispatches from WE, check out WE Stories.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

• MOVIES

Big Release on Dec. 8: Just Getting Started

Big Picture: The only three people seemingly left in Hollywood not caught up in a scandal (at least when I wrote I this sentence), unite to headline an unlikely love-triangle and rom-com: Morgan Freeman, Rene Russo and Tommy Lee Jones. Freeman plays Duke, the manager of a luxury Palm Springs resort whose top-dog status is challenged when a roguish ex-military man named Leo (Tommy Lee Jones), checks in. The two alphas square off at the poker table, on the golf course, at the ping-pong table and for the affections of Rene Russo. In its late stages, Just Getting Started becomes an action-comedy. Something about Duke secretly being in witness protection, mob hits, and aging alpha males teaming up to save the day. On a side note: Russo is 63 and Freeman is 80 – good to see May-December romances are still alive-and-well in Tinseltown among the seniors’ circuit.

Forecast: This isn’t Game of Thrones; count on the mobsters not being very successful. On a side note, the Dec. 15 release of Star Wars can’t come soon enough – the planet needs the daily distraction from whatever monstrous or juvenile tweets Donald Trump sent out the night before.

Big Picture: The Royal Family is hot, and The Crown’s return is seemingly perfectly timed. Claire Foy continues to rule the small screen with her captivating portrayal of the young Queen Elizabeth II. Her troublesome husband Prince Philip (Matt Smith), proves harder to control in Season 2 – not to mention her quarrelsome uncle, the former Edward VIII (Alex Jennings), and rebellious sister. Prince Charles’ upbringing also provides personal struggle amid all the political battles. The game of thrones is less bloody in modern England, but no less volatile. (I know the series is based on a true story, but couldn’t the writers play loose with the truth and have a crossover episode in which Tyrion Lannister plays the Queen’s hand – mainly to see him drink a whole wine bottle at high tea each day.)

Netflix also presents us with a dark, original holiday film, El Camino Christmas, about five strangers barricaded inside a liquor store on Christmas Eve during a botched robbery. Vincent D’Onofrio, Jessica Alba (yes, someone cast her in a role again!), Luke Grimes, Tim Allen, and Dax Shepard co-star. Allen makes the most of his screen time: the perennial sitcom dad has a darker edge on the stand-up circuit. Here he ditches the cuddly Santa Clause beard for hobo stubble, and hot chocolate for the harder stuff.

Forecast: Given how popular the young members of the Royal Family are these days, this series has long legs. I predict Season 30 will be about a young Prince Harry and his cutesy courtship of actress Meghan Markle on the streets of Toronto.

Luke Bryan []

• MUSIC

Big Release on Dec. 8: Luke Bryan (What Makes You Country)

Big Picture: What makes you country, Luke Bryan? Not much by the tried-and-true, gritty standards of the likes of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams – and certainly not your time sitting in the seat of American Idol judge. However, give Bryan credit for his new song Most People Are Good. We need a little optimism – even in the form of bland, Hallmarkian rhymes: “I believe you love who you love /Ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of /I believe this world ain’t half as bad as it looks /I believe most people are good.” And he’s practically a sage with this line, “If you just go by the nightly news /Your faith in all mankind would be the first thing you lose.”

Forecast: You’re better of doing what I do every December. Not buying new albums, and playing the best Christmas duet ever on an endless loop off of YouTube: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby.

And when her CBC sitcom Hatching, Matching, & Dispatching debuted in 2006, filled with more four-letter words than a sloppy game of Scrabble, her reaction was on par with that of other viewers tuning in to our venerable public broadcaster.

“I am the daughter of a sailor and have cursed and swore and effed since birth, and even I was shocked,” she says, chalking the unbleeped cussing up to a mistake in editing. “There must’ve been hundreds of words!”

Thus, Hatching, Matching, & Dispatching — about a family in Newfoundland that runs an ambulance, wedding and funeral business — got its reputation for a kind of raunchy earthiness, a delicious slice of off-colour Canadiana. It ran for six more episodes before being cancelled.

On Sunday, the Furey family returns in the TV movie A Christmas Fury, featuring the original cast. Walsh is matriarch Mamie Lou, with Mark McKinney, Susan Kent, Shaun Majumder, Jonny Harris and Joel Thomas Hynes among those rounding things out.

“You know what they say about close friends, that even if you don’t see each other for 20 years, it’s like you were in the same room all the time? That’s what it was like when everybody came back together. It was like we never stopped doing it,” says Walsh.

A Christmas Fury [CBC]

“At the end of the TV show, Alma (Adriana Maggs), was pregnant. And as we pick up, she’s pregnant. So it’s sort of like TV time — 10 years is only a month. Mamie Lou, my character, finds Christmas very difficult and she spends a lot of time trying to create the magic Christmas. This year she’s decided it’s all over for her, and she’s going to leave.”

The plot, which brings in a child who affects the whole family, is ultimately uplifting — but not without the kind of hijinks you’d expect from the Fureys.

“Alastair Sim’s A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life actually make me kind of sad that I’m not a better person,” Walsh explains. “I wanted to make a Christmas movie that touched people in that way, and was also really funny.”

Walsh is also known for being a founding castmember of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and is a recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. Along with Ed MacDonald, she won a Gemini award for the writing on Hatching — the inspiration for which she found growing up in Newfoundland.

I wanted to make a Christmas movie that touched people in that way, and was also really funny.

“Hickey’s Funeral Home had Hatching, Matching and Dispatching on their ambulance. They were an ambulance service, funeral home and wedding hall, and I thought it was some insouciant Newfoundland way of dealing with the big issues. I thought it was really funny,” she says.

As for which of the three services she most enjoys, Walsh is quick to answer.

“Funerals,” she says.

“There are no expectations at a wake. You run into people you haven’t seen in 15 years, and people who don’t drink, drink too much. Hijinks happen, and you end up having a great time.”

A Christmas Fury airs Sunday, Dec. 3, on CBC

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/mary-walsh-unveils-hatching-matching-dispatching-tv-movie/feed1Mary Walsh A Christmas Furymhank2012Mary Walsh - A Christmas FuryCelebrity Flora set to offer plenty to fawn overhttp://o.canada.com/travel/celebrity-flora-set-to-offer-plenty-to-fawn-over
http://o.canada.com/travel/celebrity-flora-set-to-offer-plenty-to-fawn-over#respondWed, 29 Nov 2017 22:13:25 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=766074]]>You probably know Celebrity Cruises best for its fantastic big-ship cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe and beyond. Celebrity’s ships are some of the most elegantly-designed vessels around, with plenty of premium touches and big-ship fun, wrapped up in a package that is classy and affordable.

For over a decade, though, Celebrity has offered one very unique departure from its winning formula: small-ship, expedition-style cruises to the Galápagos Islands aboard the 100-guest Celebrity Xpedition. It’s the hidden gem in the Celebrity fleet; one that brings the line’s style of premium cruising to one of the most ecologically-diverse places on the planet.

Celebrity’s presence in the Galapagos might not be a well-kept secret much longer. The line recently announced ambitious plans to build an entirely new cruise ship intended for expedition cruising in the Galápagos Islands. Known as Celebrity Flora, this 100-guest ship will usher in an entirely new class of vessel for Celebrity Cruises, and open up new options for past Celebrity guests and those looking to cruise to the Galapagos.

“Celebrity Flora marks another example of our revolutionary ship design by allowing the destination and its environment to influence every decision we’ve made,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “From the luxurious all-suite accommodations to industry-first, eco-friendly innovations, we created a ship that brings a new level of luxury, sustainability and natural exploration to the region.”

Celebrity Flora will sail alternating week-long “inner” and “outer” loop cruises to the Galapagos, creating the possibility for back-to-back 14-day journeys through the islands with almost no port repetition.

Designed expressly for the Galapagos, the ship will feature massive floor-to-ceiling windows in most public rooms and cabins. The ship’s outward-facing design ensures that the islands are never gar from sight, and Celebrity is adding some very cool technological features to the ship, like an anchorless positioning system that allows the ship to stay in one spot without the use of potentially damaging anchors; a stargazing platform; in-room water filtration stations that eliminate the need for plastic bottled water; and eco-friendly engines that reduce both fuel consumption and emissions.

“We are very pleased with the announcement of Celebrity Cruises’ decision to build a cruise vessel with cutting-edge technology, designed specifically to operate around our wonderful islands,” said Enrique Ponce de León, Ecuador’s Minister of Tourism. “Celebrity Flora will undoubtedly mark a very important milestone in the tourism development of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, offering high-quality and sustainable tourism.”

In addition to a wide variety of on-board lectures and educational programs, Celebrity Flora will be outfitted with an on-board Marina that is equipped to load three Zodiac rafts at once. This will dramatically reduce transportation time from the ship, allowing guests to spend more time ashore. A full expedition program of activities will be available to guests in the Galapagos.

Back on board, Celebrity Flora will have lounges and presentation centres dedicated to the history, wildlife, and conservation programs in the Galapagos. A glass-enclosed observation lounge called the Observatory will let guests admire the islands from high atop their ship, or sit outdoors at The Vista, an open-air lounge with 360-degree views and private cabanas.

Building a new ship for operation in the Galapagos is no easy task. The region is one of the most highly regulated cruise destinations in the world, and everything — right down to the food on board and the crew that serves it — must be sourced from Ecuador, with a few exceptions.

Many cruise lines operating in the region simply purchase an older ship already operating in the Galapagos and rebrand it. That Celebrity is creating one from the ground-up in conjunction with its partners in Ecuador is well worth celebrating. The early renderings I’ve seen of the ship look breathtaking.

Celebrity might be known for its big-ship cruises to well-known destinations, but this new announcement sets it on a path to become a serious contender in the premium expedition cruise market as well.

Celebrity Flora will set sail on her maiden voyage on May 29, 2019. Bookings are already open. This is one ship debut that’s almost guaranteed to sell out fast.

Happy cruising.

Visit Portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-410-4744, www.cruise.center, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly atportsandbowsaaron@gmail.com

This week, new provincial legislation takes effect, banning the hunt for sport. It’s a win for environmental activists and Indigenous groups — but more importantly, it’s informed by Western science and generations of Indigenous knowledge, an early step toward a new type of collaborative conservation.

When the grizzly bear hunt was reinstituted in 2001, many First Nations wanted to end the practice for conservation and cultural reasons, and brought these concerns to the provincial government.

“The government came to the table with 10-year (old) statistical modelling data from flyovers and tree covering,” says Hadley Archer, executive director of TNC Canada, an affiliate of the world’s largest conservation organization. Government scientists then extrapolated from one part of the province to estimate for others, essentially “guessing” the number of bears in certain regions, he says.

“Meanwhile (First Nations) communities knew where the bears were because they see them all the time. They literally have relationships with individual animals.”

Data and models faced off against cultural knowledge and first-hand experience.

The data won. The hunt continued.

[The Canadian Press]

But while the B.C. government was picking numbers over Indigenous experience, traditional ecological knowledge is gaining a foothold in academia and conservation circles. Thousands of years of lived experience and a deep connection to the land go into Indigenous knowledge, explains Kelsey Dokis-Jansen, Indigenous Initiatives Manager at the University of Alberta.

“The rigour is equal to or greater than that of Western science,” she says. “Just because it doesn’t look like the data that those trained in science can interpret does not mean it is not real.”

While grizzly bears remained in the scopes of hunters, concerned First Nations spent the next ten years enhancing traditional knowledge with “data the government would respect,” says Archer. To influence policy, they had to speak bureaucrat — and put knowledge into numbers.

A group of First Nations from across central British Columbia, including the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai’Xais and Wuikinuxv nations, worked with conservation organizations to track bear populations. Their economic assessments proved the value of ecotourism dwarfed the money brought in from hunting licences and guides. And extensive public polls showed nearly 90 per cent of British Columbians supported a ban on the trophy hunt.

To influence policy, First Nations groups had to speak bureaucrat—and put centuries of traditional knowledge into numbers.

The new data corroborated what the First Nations had been saying — and convinced the government to end the hunt. “(Taking) what First Nations already know, packaging it in a way that governments accept is a temporary state,” says Aaron Heidt, program director at Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance. The goal is building understanding between both parties, “to work together to solve the same problems.”

Gathering data and generating models has been the go-to method to inform environmental policy — but Archer, Heidt and Dokis-Jansen agree there is room for other tools in the tool box. Indigenous groups are often the ones living closest to the land. Their daily experiences and real-time observations can also drive policy.

“There are many ways of knowing the world, statistics and data are just one,” says Dokis-Jansen. “That’s pretty hard to grasp if you haven’t lived it, but I am hopeful we will get there.”

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day. For more dispatches from WE, check out WE Stories.

When you live in a city that still hasn’t seen much snow by late November, it takes some doing to get in the Christmas spirit. Books can help, though — and when it does turn into a winter wonderland out there, they’ll see you through even the coldest night and give you something to share with the youngsters in your life.

My favourite this year is A Christmas for Bear, by Seattle’s Bonny Becker, illustrated by Ontario’s Kady MacDonald Denton (Candlewick Press) and the newest volume in their series about curmudgeonly Bear and ever-hopeful, optimistic Mouse. By now, Bear has softened slightly in his approach to Mouse; in fact, he is hosting his first-ever Christmas party and Mouse is the sole guest.

The place has been decorated, there’s a beautiful tree and Bear is hard at work preparing a feast (pickles appear to be his idea of a special treat), but when Mouse asks about presents, the festive mood fades rapidly. “Most unseemly,” is Bear’s response. “We shall sit around the tree and eat. I might even read a poem. Surely that will do.” Mouse can’t believe his ears, and turns the house upside down looking for hidden gifts. “PICKLES AND POEMS!” bellows a frustrated Bear, “THAT IS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!”

But by the time Bear starts reciting “’Twas the night before Christmas,” we learn that our furry friend knows Christmas is also a time for surprises — and for the spirit of giving. Ages five to nine.

Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas!, by Florida’s Laurie Friedman (Carolrhoda Books), is about a family named Christmas whose members revel in the excesses of the holiday season — all except seven-year-old Mary, who sees no need for the biggest tree, or the most lights, or the pile of gifts, and manages to convince her family the best way to celebrate is to share their good fortune. Illustrated by Toronto’s Kathryn Durst, this picture book is best for ages four to seven.

A Christmas for Bear, left, and The Girl Who Saved Christmas

Waltz of the Snowflakes, by Ontario’s Elly MacKay (Running Press), will speak to any child who has been introduced to the joys of The Nutcracker as a special holiday event. In her wordless picture book, MacKay gives us a girl who reluctantly accompanies her grandmother to the ballet and ends up sitting next to a boy who stuck his tongue out at her in the lobby. Both kids, restless to begin with, soon fall under the spell of the Nutcracker, and by the time the performance ends have each made a new friend and gone home in a better mood than the one with which they arrived. Ages five to eight.

The Girl Who Saved Christmas, by Matt Haig (HarperCollins), is far from wordless. A sequel to Haig’s novel about the origins of Father Christmas (A Boy Called Christmas), this book has Dickensian overtones (in more ways than one) when it comes to the central character, a young chimney sweep named Amelia, whose hope and belief in Christmas helps keep the holiday alive. With black-and-white illustrations by Chris Mould, this is best for ages eight to 11.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas, is a holiday classic and publisher Holiday House this year reissued my favourite version: the one illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. (Full disclosure: the Caldecott-winning artist, who died in 2004, was a friend. But even if she weren’t, this version of the Thomas text, first published in 1954 and with Hyman’s illustrations in 1985, remains my gift-giving choice.) For all ages.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/books/books-for-kids-focus-on-giving-and-the-holiday-season/feed0postmedianews1New Carnival vessel on the Horizonhttp://o.canada.com/travel/new-carnival-vessel-on-the-horizon
http://o.canada.com/travel/new-carnival-vessel-on-the-horizon#respondFri, 24 Nov 2017 23:18:58 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=766053]]>It’s exciting times for Carnival Cruise Line. The line’s newest ship, the 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon, just completed its sea trials earlier this month in the Adriatic Sea, and is one step closer to its April debut in Barcelona.

The 3,974-guest ship is currently in its final stages of fitting out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. The second sister to Carnival Vista, which debuted in 2016, Carnival Horizon will set sail on her maiden voyage this coming April 2, with a 13-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona. It’s the first of four such departures from Barcelona before the ship sails across the Atlantic Ocean on May 9, and a rare opportunity to sail with Carnival in Europe.

Sea trials are an important stage in the construction of any ship. Designed to test the ship’s sophisticated technical, mechanical and navigation systems, these trials are conducted by teams of officers and engineers who ensure the ship performs as expected. Now that trials are complete (I hear Carnival Horizon passed with flying colours), the ship’s final fitting out work can continue.

Although Carnival Horizon is a sister-ship to Carnival Vista, guests can expect a substantial number of tweaks, improvements and changes onboard, including new features and amenities that are unique to Carnival Horizon.

The ship will offer Carnival’s first Dr. Seuss-themed water park, which is being designed in conjunction with Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Carnival carries nearly 800,000 kids per year, and the waterpark is the natural extension of the line’s superfun Seuss at Sea partnership that encourages kids to read and also offers a shipwide parade, led by the Cat in the Hat himself, which culminates with story time in the ship’s main theatre, read from an oversized copy of The Cat in the Hat.

This new waterpark will feature larger-than-life replicas of The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and The Grinch, who will sport a surfboard tucked under his arm. Some of Dr. Seuss’s most iconic phrases will be written on clear partitions that surround the facility.

Adults aren’t left out of the picture, either. Continuing the trend started aboard Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon will feature a full Imax movie screen (only the second such facility at sea), along with Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse, a new barbecue-style restaurant helmed by Food Network star Guy Fieri. The restaurant, which takes smoked comfort food to the max, will also be stocked with four different kinds of craft beer, brewed right in Carnival Horizon’s onboard brewery.

Carnival’s newest FunShip will also have the first Teppanyaki specialty restaurant in the line’s history, serving up Japanese-inspired cuisine with a fun flair that combines traditional cooking techniques with performance art. Think of it as dinner and a show. This new venue will be situated within Bonsai Sushi (already one of my favourite places to dine on Carnival’s newest ships), and will complement the other specialty onboard dining venues, including Carnival’s signature steakhouse experience, Fahrenheit 555.

On the accommodations front, Carnival Horizon will offer a wide range of stateroom choices, including the line’s hugely popular Family Suites, Cloud 9 Spa Suites, and the fabulously designed Havana staterooms and suites that were first introduced aboard Carnival Vista.

These Havana-grade accommodations feature tropical decor and private access to a stern-facing pool and lounge area. The latter is worth the price of admission on its own merits, as it is closed off to the rest of the ship (and only accessible to guests in Havana staterooms and suites) until well into the evening.

If you want to set sail aboard Carnival’s latest and greatest, there are a number of great itinerary options available for her inaugural season. In addition to Carnival Horizon’s short European season and her extensive transatlantic crossing, she’ll also offer a summer schedule of four-day voyages to the Bahamas and eight-day departures to the Caribbean that sail round-trip from New York.

In the fall, Carnival Horizon repositions to Miami to offer six- and eight-day cruises to the Caribbean, beginning on Sept. 22.

As with most new ships, bookings for Carnival Horizon are extremely popular — particularly for the ship’s European sailings and transatlantic crossings. Booking early is a good idea.

Happy cruising.

Visit Portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-410-4744, www.cruise.center, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly at portsandbowsaaron@gmail.com

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/new-carnival-vessel-on-the-horizon/feed0Horizon Sea Trials3_previewaaronpsaundersGlobal Voices: Beware of hidden messages in memeshttp://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-beware-of-hidden-messages-in-memes
http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-beware-of-hidden-messages-in-memes#respondTue, 21 Nov 2017 07:21:54 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765999]]>A man gapes over his shoulder at the pretty girl who just passed him on the street. Beside him, his girlfriend glares in outrage. The punchline is in the captions: the head-turner is the new iPhone X, while the jilted girlfriend is the already-passé iPhone 8.

You’ve probably seen — and shared — some version of this popular “distracted boyfriend” meme on Facebook or Instagram. It’s meant to be a commentary on the superficial fixation that comes with shiny new things.

But what else does the image say?

People love memes — those attention-grabbing images and zinger captions on our social media feeds. Science has shown we get a dose of happy brain chemicals like dopamine every time we share the latest LOLcat or Gene Wilder’s smirking sarcastic Willy Wonka.

Memes can be entertaining, insightful … or toxic.

Russian hackers created and planted propagandist memes to inflame both sides in last year’s U.S. presidential election. Even memes not generated by meddling foreign governments are hurting political debate on social media, argues Ottawa-based digital media consultant Mark Blevis. In place of written comments that require at least some thought, people deploy duelling “crooked” Hillary and Trump “covfefe” images to express their opinion.

“Memes replace thoughtful conversation and prevent us from finding common ground between different opinions,” says Blevis.

“Memes replace thoughtful conversation and prevent us from finding common ground between different opinions.”

Beyond politics, seemingly innocuous and funny memes can carry negative messages. Take our “distracted boyfriend” example. Eric Alper, music-industry blogger and social media guru, poses an important question: “If you took away the words, what would you think of this picture?”

Now it’s two sexist implications all in one image — a man ogling a woman in the street, and the tired stereotype of a jealous girlfriend.

Racist groups have even turned to humour memes to spread their poison — like hijacking cartoon Pepe the Frog.

Things that make us laugh can distract us from donning our critical-thinking hats. We hit Like and share content without considering the potential harm we’re helping to spread.

“Humour is the best way to get a message across — good or bad,” says Alper.

People who would never dream of telling a sexist joke at the family dinner table will share a picture of a woman in a business suit with the caption: “Makes more money than you, still expects you to pay for everything.”

Share the wrong meme, and you could be bullying someone without even knowing it. Many images are stolen from personal profiles and websites. In 2014, an American travel blogger wrote about the trauma of having a selfie pilfered and turned into a viral anti-Obamacare meme.

We don’t want to get totally down on memes. Many are legitimately hilarious. But part of social media literacy is recognizing that what’s funny on the surface may not be so amusing underneath. Ask yourself: Would I tell this joke to my parents? When you take the words away, what message does the picture convey? Does this meme really contribute to this political discussion, or am I just trolling?

So think before you share, or the next person mocked in Willy Wonka’s meme could be you.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day. For more dispatches from WE, check out WE Stories.

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-beware-of-hidden-messages-in-memes/feed0A “distracted boyfriend” meme can either be a commentary on the superficial fixation that comes with shiny new things. But it can also have a negative connotationcraigkielburgerHead for Paso Robles, California’s ‘other’ great wine regionhttp://o.canada.com/travel/head-for-paso-robles-californias-other-great-wine-region
http://o.canada.com/travel/head-for-paso-robles-californias-other-great-wine-region#respondMon, 20 Nov 2017 22:10:38 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=766007]]>Lynne Robson

When you tell people you are going to California to pick grapes and that you will be working for free they generally believe you are a) kidding, or b) crazy.

To be honest, there were moments when crazy sounded about right; when the temperature edged above 29.5 C and we were lugging 13.5 kilograms of grapes up a hill to the collector bin; when all you wanted was a gulp of water but your bottle was at the end of the last, long row of vines you’d picked.

I could go on — about the dive-bombing wasps, the masses of earwigs and the need to be alert for rattlesnakes — but then you might not want to go to Paso Robles.

You should. You definitely should go to Paso, because my fleeting moments of discomfort were far outweighed by the discovery of a place with glorious scenery, genuinely friendly people, and overflowing with good wine.

The Oak wine barrels at Tablas Creek Tasting Room []

Paso … what?

A lot of Canadians have never heard of Paso Robles, despite the fact we drink a lot of wine from there (Liberty School and J. Lohr, to name just two).

So, a little geography: Paso Robles is mid-distance between San Francisco and Los Angeles, about 32 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. The name Paso Robles means Pass of the Oaks — and large swaths of ancient oaks still line the back roads.

Until about 20 years ago, Paso was a sleepy place, surviving mainly on walnut groves and beef grazing.

There were a few vineyards but only the most imaginative could have predicted how quickly wine would transform Paso Robles. Wine production is now the economic driver of the region. Paso has become California’s third-largest producer of wine, and regularly wins prestigious awards and high scores for fine wine.

Still, when many people think “wine and California,” they think Napa and Sonoma. Paso Robles is seen by some as the “other,” less noteworthy wine region.

Two friends and I decided to go see for ourselves.

One of our travelling trio had the idea of making it a working vacation. Debbie Gordon is a sommelier. She convinced the winemaker and the owner of Rangeland vineyard to let us get a hands-on view of their wine harvest.

On the last day we picked enough grapes to fill a large bin. From left, Lynne Robson, Cathy Doyle and Debbie Gordon. []

Rangeland is a good example of the changes that have come to Paso.

When Laird Foshay bought the land 17 years ago, it was a beef and sheep ranch. Foshay sank his fortune (earned during the early days of startups in Silicon Valley) into converting much of the ranchland to growing grapes.

“Grapes are the highest value agricultural crop you can grow just about anywhere but especially in hill country and woodlands like this,” says the entrepreneur. His vineyard produces about 2,000 cases a year, and distribution of Rangeland wine is limited to the region.

That is a common story in Paso, where there are 200 wineries and a whopping 95 per cent of them are family owned. Most produce under 5,000 cases a year.

Small is beautiful

The advantage of the small operation is the “care and attention we are able to give our crop,” says Foshay.

“Small producers have the luxury of knowing all of their vines. We can pick half a row at peak of ripeness, and wait for the rest.”

As a small producer though, Rangeland has limited full-time staff, which explains in part how three Canadian women of a certain age wound up picking grapes, sorting grapes and tying up grape vines. We were occasionally useful, but seldom efficient. We provided great entertainment to the casual workers (mostly Mexican pickers). And some days we were just downright laughable.

Especially the day of the sorting and de-stemming machine nightmare.

Picture four tons of grapes pouring onto a conveyor belt. Our job was to find and dispose of dehydrated or unripe grapes. Sounds easy enough, right? And it was … until the mass of grapes headed at us was so big we were no longer examining grapes but desperately grabbing them. Now picture the

I Love Lucy episode … when Lucy and Ethel worked in a candy factory, packing bonbons.

When the conveyor belt went faster than they could handle, Lucy stuck candies in her shirt, in her hat and in her mouth. That was us, sorting grapes. We ended pretty much every day covered in grape juice and earwigs and ready to drink some wine rather than wear it.

Fortunately in Paso, that’s an easy thing to do.

These grapes picked at Rangeland vineyard in Paso Robles are destined to become Cabernet Sauvignon []

100 tasting rooms, no waiting

For tourists, the good thing about all those small wineries is all the tasting rooms that go with them. One of the best ways to see Paso Robles is to get a wine country road map and meander from one locale to the next. The average cost of a tasting flight (four to five varieties of wine) is $15 to $20.

In no particular order, here are a few we enjoyed at the end of a working day:

Daou: The breathtaking, panoramic view leaves you feeling all is right with the world. Perfection, except for the price of the tasting flight ($45). I opted for a fine glass of Sauvignon Blanc instead.

Adelaida: At 35 years, Adelaida is one of the oldest vineyards in Paso. We all bought Anna’s Red, a Rhône-style blend. Beautifully bright, with savoury notes.

Justin: Everyone orders Isosceles, Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a classic ripe California wine. This is the wine that in 1997 put Paso on the map in terms of big league awards, when Wine Spectator named Isosceles the sixth best wine in the world.

Calcareous: Perched on one of the highest limestone plateaus in Paso Robles, Calcareous is named for the limestone soil that gives Paso wine its minerality. At Calcareous, I tasted a rose so beautiful I regret not having brought a bottle home. Vin Gris Cuvée is a blend of pinot noir and Grenache noir.

Tablas Creek: This winery is often called the “pioneers” of Paso because they imported and cultivated the Rhône grape varietal on which much of Paso’s reputation was built. Tablas is revered for its red wines, but I bought the 2016 Picpoul Blanc, which is a single varietal white Rhône.

The the sorting machine. Four tons of grapes are heading her way, and Cathy Doyle’s job is to find the unripe grapes, leaves and stems. []

Rangeland: Foshay calls himself an “advanced beginner” winemaker, but his 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon suggests otherwise. His vines are maturing well, the wine has a lovely herbal nuance with delicious spice notes and a decidedly long finish. His “tasting room” was his back deck with a gorgeous view of the Paso hills.

But big is good, too

We visited one other tasting room, Treanna. This is another family-owned winery but on a very different scale (producing 250,000 to 300,000 cases a year).

Austin Hope, CEO of Treanna, gave us a private tasting, including Liberty School, which sells well in Canada (75,000 to 85,000 cases a year). “In the late 1990s, we were just about the first Paso Robles wine to break into the Canadian market. When we first put out Liberty School, we listed it as ‘California’ wine. We thought saying Paso Robles would confuse people and put them off.”

In October, Hope released his new, favourite wine, called Austin Hope, and right under his name, in bold letters, PASO ROBLES. The name that once was “confusing” is now a matter of pride and part of the sales pitch. “We are definitely planting the flag with this one. I think it will stand up against any wine made in California.” (The Austin Hope wine will hit the Canadian market next year.)

Laird Foshay, owner of Rangeland. []

Big reds and much more

Paso Robles made its reputation on producing Big Red Wines. For a while the region was even criticized for having wines TOO big, too much alcohol forward. “Unbalanced” is what the wine experts call it.

Now, the new winemakers in Paso say they have tamed the beast. Paul Hinschberger, winemaker at Rangeland, explains what people should expect from Paso now.

“We still make big wines. That will never go away because of the hot climate. But now we are making more elegant wines, too. Paso does big wine and delicate, beautiful wines. Now we can cater to all different palates. That’s a sign we have evolved as a wine region.”

A toast to fine wine

On our last morning, we “The Canadian Ladies” picked a half ton of grapes. We were given a new nickname: “The Half Ton Mammas.” I like the label.

When I dare open one of my few Paso Robles wines, it will remind me of the hot sun, sticky grape juice … and the hopes of the people who made the wine, and made a unique vacation possible.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big Release on Nov. 22: Coco

Big Picture: Kids used to visit places like Oz, Narnia and Wonderland – and now they’re visiting the Land of the Dead. Is it a sign of the times? Disney brings to life Mexican-Aztec folklore as a little boy named Miguel visits the beautiful, mysterious Land of the Dead. Picture a bunch of skeletons living in a colourful, magical hybrid of Los Angeles, a Marc Chagall painting and an exploded crayon factory. Miguel is on a quest to find his musical muse and idol, but he may unlock his own family secrets along the way. The voice cast includes Benjamin Bratt and Gael García Bernal.

Forecast: Not an obnoxious border wall in sight between our world and this foreign land! I predict Donald Trump will mistake this animated family film for a documentary, and impose a travel ban on the Land of the Dead – or threaten to deport “all those bad, loser skeleton hombres” from America.

Big Picture: Marvel’s Runaways is about teenage mutants who must unite against the most vile villains of all-time: parents. This coming-of-age tale is like Hogwarts meets X-Men meets Riverdale, but it’s only super-power may be explosive clichés. The fall season has not been kind to new Marvel shows; this one comes to Showcase via Hulu.

“It is a fearful thing, to love what death can touch,” Godless’s tagline intones. You know what that means, probably a lot of death. This Steven Soderbergh western is set in a remote New Mexico mining town that is governed by women. Michelle Dockery, Jeff Daniels, and Sam Waterston co-star. (They better not all be cyborgs. I want a new twist ending).

Finally, Spike Lee’s first TV series is modern take on his 1986 classic She’s Gotta Have It. It’s about a Brooklyn artist and her complicated love life.

Forecast: Pop culture may need to take a break from comic-book material for a little while. You know, examine some other source material. Like books (humanity has written a lot of them), or, gasp, original screenplays.

Big Picture: Björk offers us Utopia on her ninth studio album; at 71 minutes, this musical paradise is a long visit. The mysterious artist is backed by a 12-piece Icelandic flute section, bird calls, and more! Of course, the one-of-a-kind Icelandic songstress probably has a one-of-a-kind interpretation of utopia. (I imagine it involves humanity living in harmony with elves on top of a giant volcano that spurts frozen ice cream, and travelling the world on flying carpets. Count me in, Björk).

Meanwhile, Oasis alumnus Noel Gallagher releases a third album with his outfit the High Flying Birds. Once upon a time, Noel was self-involved and told the world he was bigger than the Beatles, and now he is asking important cosmic questions through his music. Who built the moon? Do tell, Noel. (Of course, I thought it was the Decepticons. But I saw Transformers: Dark of the Moon on a plane – and Michael Bay hurts my brain – so I may have missed something.

Forecast: Any utopia is worth a visit in this day and age.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-nov-20-coco-marvels-runaways-and-more/feed0Cocopostmedianews1Jeff Daniels in GodlessBjorkFreddie Highmore praises feel-good optimism of The Good Doctorhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/freddie-highmore-praises-feel-good-optimism-of-the-good-doctor-2
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/freddie-highmore-praises-feel-good-optimism-of-the-good-doctor-2#respondFri, 17 Nov 2017 21:54:50 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765946]]>Freddie Highmore sees the good in everybody — even serial killers like Norman Bates, one of the most notorious murderers in cinematic history.

“I always thought that Norman was still somehow endearing and likable, as opposed to this horrible, nasty serial killer who was cold-hearted,” says Highmore, who played the corpse-freezing killer for five seasons of A&E’s Bates Motel, a prequel series to the 1960 film Psycho.

His current character, surgeon Shaun Murphy on The Good Doctor, however, might as well be called Dr. Feelgood. As in, the stories in each episode make viewers feel good. The ratings those episodes bring in likely make broadcasters ABC and CTV feel even better.

When it debuted in September, The Good Doctor took in 11.2 million U.S. viewers and 2.6 million Canadian ones — enough to place it in third place that week in Canada, behind only The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. It has consistently ranked among the most-watched broadcast shows since then.

Emotionally exhausting fare seems to be resonating with viewers of late: The success of The Good Doctor follows 2016’s breakout, NBC’s This is Us — the tear-jerker family saga that not only warms the heart, it serves it up à la mode, with extra whipped cream.

“What I have always liked about Shaun and found refreshing in his character is his optimism, always striving to see the good in people, his hopeful outlook on the world,” says Highmore.

“And I think in a time when there is more negativity than usual around the world, people are potentially drawn to Shaun and to the intimate, personal stories that we try to tell on a weekly basis.”

Kacey Rohl, left, and Freddie Highmore in The Good Doctor [ABC]

Shaun has autism and savant syndrome, which, combined with his youth, makes him an underdog at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Also starring Nicholas Gonzalez and Antonia Thomas, the series is based on the 2013 South Korean series of the same name.

Highmore read the script for The Good Doctor three days after wrapping Bates Motel (both series film in Vancouver and share much of the same crew), and he was eager to go from taking lives to saving them.

“Your first reaction is to doubt that this is possible, that you get one amazing character straight after another one,” says Highmore, who was born in London and has previously starred in the films Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The nuances of Shaun have also made viewers and critics take note — particularly the true-to-life portrayal of his autism. With expert Melissa Reiner as a show consultant, Highmore plays the character as restrained yet not fully unaffected by the high-stakes medical drama swirling around him. (Atypical on Netflix also features a lead character with autism, a high-functioning teenager who decides to start dating.)

“I think it’s also lovely when people who don’t have autism find something to connect with in Shaun.”

“In terms of Shaun’s autism, it was important to remember from the very beginning that he can never — and should never — represent everyone who has autism. It’s the same way that a neurotypical lead of a show could never possibly represent the plethora and wide variation of people who are neurotypical in the world,” Highmore says.

“We recently were given an award in Los Angeles from Autism Speaks, and it’s lovely to get positive feedback from those in the autism community. I think it’s also lovely when people who don’t have autism find something to connect with in Shaun.”

And while the stories on The Good Doctor are decidedly heavy medical drama fare — recent episodes have featured a young boy with terminal cancer, a woman with a high-risk pregnancy, and a man with Echinococcus, a cyst form of tapeworms — Highmore says he relishes those moments when Shaun can let loose.

“It’s important to infuse Shaun’s sense of humour into the show and have lighter moments. In a hospital where there’s so much heartbreak, perhaps more heartbreak than joy, it’s important to have a central character who has that optimism, but also a sense of fun and excitement about being there,” Highmore says.

“I’d like to think that I identify with his hopeful positivity. That is something that we should all try to remain aware of, and make sure that we’re thinking in that way too.”

The Good Doctor airs Mondays on CTV/ABC

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/freddie-highmore-praises-feel-good-optimism-of-the-good-doctor-2/feed0The Good Doctormhank2012The Good DoctorTake trip through polar regions aboard expedition shiphttp://o.canada.com/travel/take-trip-through-polar-regions-aboard-expedition-ship
http://o.canada.com/travel/take-trip-through-polar-regions-aboard-expedition-ship#respondTue, 14 Nov 2017 22:55:32 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765914]]>If you love the idea of taking an adventurous, educational expedition to some of the world’s most remote places, the ships of Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (expeditions.com) can take you there. For decades, the company has pioneered expedition cruising around the globe. Now, it has announced an agreement with Norwegian shipbuilder and designer Ulstein to construct its first purpose-built polar expedition vessel.

Set to launch during the first quarter of 2020, the as-yet-unnamed expedition ship will be the newest and most technologically advanced ship in the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet. Designed specifically to sail the world’s polar regions, including Antarctica and the High Arctic, the ship will embrace the company’s policy of connecting guests with each environment it explores. To that end, a full 75 per cent of cabins on-board will feature private balconies, multiple observation decks, and specially designed “observation wings” that sit in the footprint of the ship’s navigation bridge.

This ship’s new futuristic design isn’t purely esthetic. Her distinctive bow (designed by Ulstein and registered as the X-BOW) provides greater fuel efficiency and better guest comfort in rough seas. The ship will also be equipped with the highest ice-class rating for access into polar regions that would otherwise be off-limits to other expedition vessels. To do this, the ship’s fuel and water tanks have been expanded, allowing her to cruise longer — and farther — than her contemporaries.

Lindblad’s new ship will feature all the toys and gadgets you’d expect from an expedition line of this calibre, including on-board zodiac rafts complete with a brand new loading system; a remotely operated vehicle (ROV); hydrophones; a video microscope; underwater video cameras; and a helicopter landing platform. The line hints that more expedition features are coming in the months leading up to this new vessel’s official debut.

“We are incredibly excited to be working with Ulstein and their brilliant team of engineers and designers on this state-of-the-art vessel as we continue expansion of our fleet. It is the next step in the long-term growth of the company, and will be the most extraordinary global expedition ship in the world on a multitude of levels,” said Sven Lindblad, president and chief executive of Lindblad.

“The launch of this ship will mark the 50th anniversary year of the first-ever purpose-built expedition ship, Lindblad Explorer, which was built by my father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, and will set another important milestone in the company’s commitment to deliver expedition travel at its best,” he added.

“Our expedition cruises, operated through our alliance with Lindblad Expeditions, have delivered remarkable experiences to our guests for the past 13 years,” said Nancy Schumacher, head of Travel and Tour Operations for National Geographic. “The expansion of the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet is truly terrific news, as it allows us to offer these unforgettable trips to even more travellers in the future. We look forward to joining our partner Lindblad Expeditions in celebrating the launch of the latest addition to the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet.”

The as-yet-unnamed polar vessel will have 69 guest staterooms and suites, and 12 cabins will be designed specifically for solo travellers; a quickly emerging market that will no doubt benefit from the inclusion of these solo-supplement-free staterooms.

On-board, the ship will also include a full spa and fitness area; two infinity Jacuzzi tubs out on deck; and both indoor and outdoor dining options. Full details and features aren’t available yet, but expect Lindblad to reveal more renderings and amenities as the ship’s launch date approaches.

There could be more of that new-ship excitement waiting in the wings: Lindblad has options for two additional sister-ships that, if exercised, would enter service shortly after this new vessel’s 2020 debut.

Of course, you don’t have to wait until 2020 to set sail on the adventure of a lifetime. Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic currently offers diverse small-ship expedition cruises around the world, including voyages to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest; Baja California and the Caribbean; the Galapagos; Belize and Guatemala; Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, and expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic.

Happy cruising.

Visit Portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-410-4744, www.cruise.center, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly at portsandbowsaaron@gmail.com

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/take-trip-through-polar-regions-aboard-expedition-ship/feed0Horizon Sea Trials3aaronpsaundersViceland’s Most Expensivest brings the blinghttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/vicelands-most-expensivest-brings-the-bling
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/vicelands-most-expensivest-brings-the-bling#respondTue, 14 Nov 2017 21:52:26 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765899]]>No question: The Oprah Winfreys, Richard Bransons and Scrooge McDucks of this world are living large. But do their indulgences — that $4,000 canine cologne, that $800 bottle of beer, or other such luxury — live up to the hype? Viceland’s new series Most Expensivest packs its limited-edition Louis Vuitton suitcases for a trip into the culture of excess. Hosted by Grammy-winning rapper 2 Chainz, it debuts Wednesday. Here are five examples of exorbitance featured in the show:

1. $4,900 chicken wings

At Old Homestead Steakhouse in New York City, three wings are covered in white and black truffles and a cream sauce infused with Rémy Martin Louis XIII Cognac, which costs $2,400 per bottle. Three more are topped with $1,600-per-ounce Royal Ossetra caviar, and three are saturated with $65-a-pound foie gras. Just for kicks, there’s also a $400-a-pound imported Japanese Kobe filet mignon “wing,” marinated in imported Japanese Tokubetsu Daiginjyou Kamutachi sake, which costs $1,100 per bottle.

Chainz puffs a Gurkha Cigar [Viceland]

2. $1,800 cigar

Gurkha Cigars makes His Majesty’s Reserve (HMR) cigars that are infused with a bottle of Rémy Martin Louis XIII Cognac — the same $2,400-per-bottle liquor gussying up those $4,900 chicken wings, remember? Named among most expensive cigars in the world, HMR puffing sticks were made in 1996 with 15-year-old tobacco. Only 1,000 boxes were manufactured, so their worth rises as supply declines.

3. $100 doughnut

Executive chef Björn DelaCruz of The Manila Social Club in New York City created the 24K Golden Cristal Ube Donut, which is filled with an ube mousse (ube is a purple sweet yam from the Philippines) and Cristal Champagne gelée. It’s then covered in a Cristal icing and dusted with 24K pure gold dust and hand-gilded with 24K pure gold leaf. All doughnuts are handmade by DelaCruz, who says they were meant to be a special gift for his loved ones.

At $100, this 24K Golden Cristal Ube Donut is a relative bargain [Viceland]

4. $12,500-per-year club

Considered the most exclusive club in the world, Core Club charges an initiation fee that ranges between $30,000 and $50,000. For that, its members in New York City enjoy what its website says is a curated experience blending art, current events, creativity and innovation. Translation: You get a gym, office, art gallery, screening room, barber shop, restaurant, bar, spa and terrace. Core Club has 1,300 members with an average net worth of $100 million each.

5. $20,000 exercise equipment

Over in Core Club’s gym lurks one of the world’s most expensive pieces of exercise equipment. Miha Bodytec’s electronic muscle stimulation training system delivers a 20-minute workout that’s equivalent to two hours of working out. The trick? It uses electric currents to stimulate muscular contractions in combination with a series of simple exercises. The system costs a minimum of $20,000.

Most Expensivist debuts Wednesday, Nov. 15, on Viceland

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/vicelands-most-expensivest-brings-the-bling/feed0Most Expensivestmhank2012Most ExpensivestMost ExpensivestGlobal Voices: Canadian military presence not always peacekeepinghttp://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-canadian-military-presence-not-always-peacekeeping
http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-canadian-military-presence-not-always-peacekeeping#commentsTue, 14 Nov 2017 07:17:35 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765885]]>When four American Green Berets were killed in a deadly ambush in Niger last month, the first reaction from many was surprise: When did the War on Terror sprawl to West Africa?

A major part of the incident’s news cycle consisted of pundits struggling to answer this very fundamental question. Here at home, “probably even fewer people know that Canada is (also) in Niger,” says Laurier University professor Timothy Donais.

Donais is referring to Task Force NABERIUS, an elite team of 24 Canadian Armed Forces members on the ground in Niger since 2013. They’re training the Nigerien military in everything from counter-terrorism to the protection of vulnerable populations. The low-key mission is billed as capacity-building — but as the recent events in Niger demonstrate, all military operations in unstable regions carry risks.

Operation NABERIUS is a small contingent of soldiers, to be sure. Taken with other ongoing military engagements around the world, however, it paints a very different picture of our army than the one imprinted on Canada’s national consciousness.

We see ourselves as peacekeepers, but the very nature of peacekeeping has changed.

With all the talk of how “the world needs more Canada”— and in light of this year’s United Nations conference on peacekeeping in Vancouver, where delegates from dozens of nations are gathering on Tuesday and Wednesday — the national debate has focused exclusively on how Canada can support UN efforts. But this dialogue risks overlooking the vast majority of the Canadian army’s current missions. “That’s a general misperception among Canadians,” says Queen’s University professor Joel Sokolsky. “The major focus of the Canadian Armed Forces is overseas in support of our allies, not in support of the United Nations.”

Canadian military instructors at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center [Getty Images]

Beyond UN missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Haiti and the Golan Heights — and the high-profile engagements in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine, there are Canadian forces in Latvia and Kosovo. Canadian navy ships patrol the eastern Pacific Ocean to fight drug trafficking. Air force cargo planes transport personnel and equipment in Mali. Military engineers and doctors operate in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Officers train Palestinian Authority Security Forces in Jerusalem. Soldiers deliver aid in the wake of hurricanes in the Caribbean.

Canada’s military is already present around the world — just not always as peacekeepers.

Many current missions are “more green helmet than blue,” says Sokolsky — meaning they involve more military might than peacekeeping vigilance, and don’t fit the Canadian national identity in the same way that standing on guard for peace once did.

“The era of classic peacekeeping is long gone,” he says.

Instead, we’re in an era of peace enforcement — a riskier mandate to neutralize more than act as impartial mediator. Even as the government mulls over an additional 600 peacekeeping troops, they’ve taken pains to acknowledge the complexity of realities on the ground.

Traditional peacekeeping may be disappearing — but it’s not forgotten.

Within sight of Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa, three towering bronze soldiers stand atop a pedestal of stone, a monument to Canada’s peacekeeping history. The world needs more Canada — blue helmets or green — and we should be proud to honour both.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day. For more dispatches from WE, check out WE Stories.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

• MOVIES

Big Release on Nov.17: Justice League

Big Picture: They say timing is everything, and non-fictional America could sure use a Justice League right about now. Too bad the capes, tridents and tiaras are only to be found on the silver screen. As for the film, it finds Bruce Wayne believing in human decency and camaraderie again in the wake of Superman’s death, as the batty billionaire goes about uniting a super team.

Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash join forces to protect the planet from an assault of epic proportions.

After the super-serious, gloomy failings of Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Man of Steel, DC Comics plays the Joss Whedon Avengers’ card and goes for the funny bone amid all the heroism. There are quips a-plenty in this script, and thankfully Whedon himself even took over as director from brooding specialist Zack Snyder. But don’t worry, things aren’t all lollipops and rainbows. The heroes protect a “world without hope” plagued by rising crime, war and terrorism. Apparently, humanity packed in its good side after Superman’s loss.

Forecast: The Kryptonian member of this superhero team is MIA from the trailers. In my personal opinion, it’s a safe bet that Superman will return from the grave to save the day.

Big Picture: The Defenders and Iron Fist were stumbles in Marvel’s bid to flex its spandex on the small screen, but The Punisher should be on target for genre fans. Jon Bernthal reprises the vigilante character in this new series from Hannibal writer/producer Steve Lightfoot. We meet Frank Castle, a U.S. military hitman who shoots first and asks questions later – only to be haunted by his misdeeds. Naturally, his solution is to shoot more people for vengeance. (It’s a classic American tale!) The show’s tagline – “the truth must be taken” – even sounds like it was lifted from an NRA pin.

Meanwhile, Mudbound is a Netflix original film that adapts Hillary Jordan’s 2008 novel. It offers an epic, personal story about the Second World War and racism – focused on a white and a black family, and shifting from the war’s battlefields to the battlefields back home in rural Mississippi. The star-studded cast includes Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell and Mary J. Blige (who is getting the most awards’ buzz). This top-notch drama comes with pedigree – it bowed at Sundance.

Forecast: The Punisher shoots to entertain, and should please the anti-hero’s many fans. But in an America beset by bigotry and gun violence, I will take Superman’s idealism over angry vigilantism. (If Superman can make Batman lighten up, maybe there’s hope for us all.)

Big Picture: This is Jeff Tweedy’s third-time around producing the legendary Mavis Staples (they already won one Grammy), and the Wilco frontman wrote all the tracks on this effort. Staples wanted the album to take on American’s current divisive social climate. “We’re not loving one another the way we should,” she says. “Some people are saying they want to make the world great again, but we never lost our greatness. We just strayed into division.”

Tweedy takes her comments further: “There is something that feels complicit at this moment in time about not facing what is happening in this country head on.” Tracks includes If All I Was Was Black and Peaceful Dream.

Meanwhile, the Barenaked Ladies can always be counted on for a little levity and humour. The band just celebrated 25 years, and are now gearing up to tour Fake Nudes, their 15th studio album. “I think it’s a very important time for optimism,” the group’s Ed Robertson recently stated. “We live in a world that tends to emphasize the negative. I think it’s kind of a false narrative – we certainly have problems that we all need to address, but the narrative that we’re in constant danger, that doom is imminent, is not real.” (If The Punisher is on your Christmas gift list, he could use a copy of this album).

Canadian guest artists on the release include Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy and Great Big Sea’s Alan Doyle.

Forecast: Mavis will make it back to the Grammy podium; BNL will make you smile.

Question: What’s the most inappropriate response to a loved one who tells you they’re struggling with infertility? Or, maybe it’s not.

The new comedic web series How to Buy a Baby suggests as much, as it follows 30-something couple Jane (Meghan Heffern) and Charlie (Marc Bendavid), who discover they’re infertile. They’re determined to stay lighthearted amid the heavy diagnosis, but the emotional and financial burden threatens to overwhelm.

Inspired by the struggles lawyer-turned-writer Wendy Litner and her husband faced, the CBC original series launches Monday, Nov. 13, on the CBC TV app and cbc.ca/watch.

“We went through rounds of infertility treatments, and I just felt like it was such a lonely, isolating time,” says Litner, whose treatments filled the greater part of five years.

“When we were diagnosed, we were committed to being able to laugh at it. There wasn’t a lot of romance or intimacy to it, so we decided to approach it with a sense of humour. One in six Canadian couples struggle with infertility, so we hope that it tells their story as well.”

Unfolding in 10 episodes that run between five and eight minutes each, How to Buy a Baby doesn’t sugar-coat the toll of the treatments.

Writer-creator Wendy Litner, left, with producer Lauren Corber of How to Buy a Baby [CBC]

“You have to go in for cycle monitoring every morning, a blood test and an ultrasound. It’s just all so intrusive, and especially in Canada, I wasn’t used to having to pay for medical treatments,” Litner says.

“I felt like I couldn’t shut up about it. I was getting shots in my behind, and I felt like I needed everyone to know that this was happening.”

Some scenes in How to Buy a Baby come from real-life experiences, like the time Litner and her husband argued about whether to have a December baby or a January one (“a ridiculous discussion,” Litner admits). But others and many of the supporting characters — the doctors, the friends — are fictionalized.

Once a strictly hushed-tones topic, infertility is increasingly being brought into the open: Celebrities including Tyra Banks, Chrissy Teigen and Jimmy Fallon have shared their personal stories of late. Still, there are many misconceptions, so to speak.

“I think there’s a misconception that it’s a female issue, and it’s not. It’s equally a male issue. I think men especially feel isolated in this experience, because I don’t know that they’re getting the support they need and deserve,” Litner says.

“Also I felt like I was doing something wrong, that I did something to deserve it — like I drank too much coffee. And it’s just not true. It’s just like any other disease, and I think that people don’t know that infertility is considered a disease by the World Health Organization. There’s quite a lot of judgment around.”

Says the show’s producer Lauren Corber, who met Litner when they were in law school together, just finding common ground with others can help.

“We held interviews with couples that have gone through infertility, and each person came in with a different story, but there were so many similarities,” she says. “A lot of them talked about how they go to infertility clinics and nobody talks to anyone. Everyone just sits there looking at the floor, looking at their phones, but everybody is going through the same thing.”

Despite the treatments, Litner didn’t end up having a biological child after all. But working on the show helped her process the experience.

“I actually found myself more emotional watching the series than making it. It seemed surreal and I was in a bit of shock. But then being able to watch it, watching Megan having things happen to her, I got really emotional,” she says.

“It’s also been therapeutic in that we’ve created this amazing community online of supporters and people who are going through it. We get messages from people so excited and appreciative to be talking about their experiences with infertility. And that’s been so meaningful to me, to connect with people who are going through it as well.”

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/how-to-buy-a-baby-a-new-web-series-that-finds-humour-in-infertility/feed0How to Buy a Babymhank2012How to Buy a BabyGirl power rules at PBS, with three new programs on taphttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/girl-power-rules-at-pbs-with-three-new-programs-on-tap
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/girl-power-rules-at-pbs-with-three-new-programs-on-tap#respondFri, 10 Nov 2017 21:47:47 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765852]]>When Naomi Kutin was 10, essentially 97 pounds of pure pluck, she broke a world powerlifting record by hoisting 215 pounds (98 kg), in competition. An Orthodox Jew from New Jersey, she earned the nickname Supergirl and has since set records in bench press (125 pounds/57 kg), squat (321 pounds/146 kg) and deadlift (363 pounds/165 kg).

Kutin is the subject of the documentary Supergirl, airing under PBS’s Independent Lens banner next month. Director Jessie Auritt followed the tiny titan over three years, from age 11 to age 14. In addition to typical adolescent concerns, the film shows Kutin adhering to strict religious obligations, combating cyberbullying and dealing with health issues that threaten her powerlifting.

Supergirl premières Dec. 18 on PBS, and begins streaming the next day on the Independent Lens website.

“At a time when many of us feel helpless, Supergirl proves we should never give up on the little guy — except today’s superhero is a super girl,” said Lois Vossen, executive producer for Independent Lens.

Tracy Clayton will be featured on Inspiring Women []

In fact, the idea of girl power is washing over PBS like so many refrains of the Spice Girls anthem Wannabe. Last week, the U.S. public broadcaster debuted the web series Inspiring Woman as part of its American Masters programming, as well as its year-long campaign inviting people to share stories of exceptional women they know using the hashtag #InspiringWomanPBS.

Unravelling over six episodes, Inspiring Woman lets influential professionals tell their stories and explain how they’re changing their industries.

Among those featured: Tracy Clayton, co-host of BuzzFeed’s award-winning podcast Another Round (available now); Angie Mar, one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs of 2017 (debuts Nov. 22); and Sara Chipps, the JavaScript developer who co-founded the non-profit Girl Develop It (debuts Dec. 6).

Webcam performer Molly Soda is in the spotlight Dec. 20, while entrepreneur Rakia Reynolds is up Jan. 3. Visual artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, who created the street art series Stop Telling Women to Smile, headlines the Jan. 17 episode.

Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars features Ella Ballentine []

“Our digital platforms give us a chance to spotlight new voices in our culture,” said Michael Kantor, executive producer of American Masters, “and these women are all innovative powerhouses.”

Finally, on Nov. 23, one of Canada’s own free-spirited females comes to the fore. The new TV movie Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars follows Anne Shirley (played by Ella Ballentine), as she turns 13 and faces challenges with her friends, her guardians the Cuthberts (Martin Sheen and Sara Botsford) and Gilbert (Drew Haytaoglu).

It’s the second in a series of three Green Gables’ films airing on PBS. The first, dubbed simply Anne of Green Gables, debuted last November and drew 3.2 million viewers. Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew airs next year.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/girl-power-rules-at-pbs-with-three-new-programs-on-tap/feed0Supergirlmhank2012Tracy Clayton Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars Encore+ a new YouTube channel for retro CanConhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/encore-a-new-youtube-channel-for-retro-cancon
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/encore-a-new-youtube-channel-for-retro-cancon#respondThu, 09 Nov 2017 21:34:31 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765837]]>Vintage Canadian films and television shows are finding new life in the digital age. Several key media companies have teamed up for Encore+, a YouTube channel that streams shows including Da Vinci’s Inquest and The Littlest Hobo for free.

Already, more than 300 videos related to 100 films and TV series fill the channel, some of it newly remastered. Content is available in French and English and includes comedies, dramas, children’s shows, documentaries and short films. New offerings will arrive weekly at youtube.com/EncorePlusMedia.

“Many of the titles we’re featuring have been enjoyed by audiences from different generations and were funded through public support. They have since disappeared from most screens,” said Valerie Creighton, president and CEO of the Canada Media Fund.

Among the TV series currently available: Da Vinci’s Inquest, Degrassi High, Due South, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Moccasin Flats, Mr. Dressup and The Littlest Hobo. Films include I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing and New Waterford Girl, while French titles include Cornemuse, La Petite Vie and Watatatow.

The Canada Media Fund collaborated with producers, distributors and unions for the project, as well as Google Canada, Bell Media, BroadbandTV (BBTV), Deluxe Toronto and Telefilm Canada.

Ernie Coombs and his puppet friends in Mr Dressup. The children’s show is streaming on Encore+ [Handout]

“Canada is one of the world’s most vibrant YouTube communities, with watch time growing 30 per cent over last year, and we are certain that these celebrated titles will find an engaged audience both here at home and around the world,” said Sabrina Geremia, the country director for Google Canada.

To wit, YouTube unveiled in July the curated page Spotlight Canada, featuring the nation’s most successful content creators and viral videos, such as astronaut Chris Hadfield’s collaboration with the Barenaked Ladies from space. It was the first time a country was singled out with its own curated section.

Streaming services in Canada currently offer relatively newer homegrown movies and TV shows: Netflix boasts Trailer Park Boys (which it co-produces) and the 2011 film Goon, for example, while CraveTV serves up such shows as Letterkenny and Corner Gas.

And there’s more new Canadian content to come. Netflix announced in September it will invest at least $500 million in original productions in Canada over the next five years, as part of a reboot of the country’s cultural policy.

But vintage Canadian fare has remained fairly scarce.

Said Nick Iannelli, senior vice-president of post-production for digital production studio Deluxe Toronto: “Reviving this content so it can be watched by Canadians and the world ensures that a new generation of viewers will enjoy these great Canadian classics.”

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/encore-a-new-youtube-channel-for-retro-cancon/feed0Degrassi Highmhank2012Mr DressupCaribbean cruising options abound offering fall, winter incentiveshttp://o.canada.com/travel/caribbean-cruising-options-abound-offering-fall-winter-incentives
http://o.canada.com/travel/caribbean-cruising-options-abound-offering-fall-winter-incentives#respondWed, 08 Nov 2017 22:31:36 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765831]]>The Caribbean has always been the quintessential cruise destination, but this might be the best time to take a cruise there in recent memory. Repairs have been made quickly to many of the affected islands following this summer’s unusually active hurricane season. And it’s not just good news for travellers: Many of these islands depend heavily on cruise and land-based tourism, and the faster they can get those tourists back, the better.

One of my favourite lines, Holland America, has some great deals on right now in the Caribbean — especially if you can cruise between the time you read this and January. Eastern Caribbean cruises aboard the elegant Eurodam are running just over $500 per person for an inside cabin for select week-long sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in December and January (though these prices are highly subject to change), and there are still some spaces open on the Nov. 29 departure of the Koningsdam. The latter is a 10-night Southern Caribbean Wayfarer voyage with onboard wine experts and is one of Holland America’s Adventure of Your Life cruises, featuring special activities, events and speakers curated by the people behind O, The Oprah Magazine.

Next year also marks an important milestone for Holland America. In the new year, the line’s private island, Half Moon Cay, will celebrate its 20th anniversary. It’s worth it to book a Holland America cruise just to visit this pristine wonderland. The waters are impossibly beautiful, and there are endless on-shore activity options, from horseback rides along the beach to cycling tours of the island, snorkelling excursions and of course, the option to do absolutely nothing but kick back with a cocktail and a good book.

Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line reopened Grand Turk on Nov. 1, with Carnival Ecstasy inaugurating the event during a day-long call. The $60-million cruise facility in the Turks & Caicos was opened by Carnival Corporation back in 2006, and has become one of the most popular spots in the Eastern Caribbean thanks to its sprawling sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and abundance of activities within Grand Turk itself, and in nearby Cockburn Town.

Almost the entirety of Carnival’s fleet is positioned in the Caribbean this winter, and Carnival president Christine Duffy noted that the Fun Ships will resume sailings to San Juan on Nov. 30, and St. Thomas and St. Maarten in January. In the meantime, however, there are great deals to be had for the rest of the Caribbean, including voyages on Carnival’s newest vessel, Carnival Vista, which is operating some really fantastic eight-day voyages from Miami to the Southern Caribbean this winter.

Also noteworthy is the recently refitted Carnival Elation, which has been given a complete makeover that includes an entirely new deck of balcony staterooms, refitted interiors, and completely redesigned cabins. I’ll be checking out this exciting new refit in January but for now, you can find Carnival Elation sailing quick cruises to the Bahamas out of Jacksonville, Fla.

Other lines, including Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean are also rolling out the special deals and incentives right now. These can be in the form of reduced deposits, added amenities like complimentary gratuities and drink packages, or both. Celebrity Cruises even has some rare, quick itineraries to the Caribbean and the Bahamas aboard Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Reflection in the coming months; a great chance to try out Celebrity’s coolest new ships for a fraction of what it normally costs.

If you need more reasons to cruise the Caribbean, consider this: MSC Cruises is launching its largest, newest, and most exciting ship to-date in Miami this December. This high-tech, 4,140-guest ship is the first of an entirely new class of vessel for MSC, and promises to be unlike anything afloat. Although she’s plenty big, her indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to reconnect guests with the sea. To that end, she has plenty of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, sweeping promenades, and terraced decks to provide every guest with more of what any good cruise should: sweeping views of the ocean.

MSC Seaside will be christened in Miami on Dec. 21, and she sets sail on alternating week-long Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises shortly after that.

Happy Caribbean cruising.

Visit Portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-410-4744, www.cruise.center, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly atportsandbowsaaron@gmail.com

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/caribbean-cruising-options-abound-offering-fall-winter-incentives/feed0Amber Cove - Puerto Plata - Dominican RepublicaaronpsaundersGlobal Voices: Upgrade to the new Neighbourhood Watchhttp://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-upgrade-to-the-new-neighbourhood-watch
http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-upgrade-to-the-new-neighbourhood-watch#respondTue, 07 Nov 2017 07:52:59 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765779]]>After fleeing Syria to settle in Winnipeg early this year, Mannan Hamrasho was beaten and robbed, his children bullied at school, and his new home tagged with racist graffiti.

A neighbour, James Favel, got word of the incidents. He rushed over with a gift basket of treats and colouring books for the kids, and the promise of a better Canadian welcome. The Hamrasho family is now under the protective care of Favel’s Bear Clan Patrol, a community organization taking the neighbourhood watch to a new level.

Following our neighbours to the south, Canadian neighbourhood watch groups started forming in the 1970s as a means of crime prevention. Designated residents called police when they spotted vandals or thieves. Today, crime rates are falling on average — 29 per cent lower than a decade ago — so you might assume the need for watch groups would dwindle. Meanwhile, other social challenges are increasing: an aging population, more immigrants and refugees acclimating to new culture, and youth and family homelessness.

Today, watch groups that form new mandates can be even more neighbourly.

The Bear Clan Patrol was founded in 1992 to address violence against Indigenous women in Winnipeg’s North End, an at-risk neighbourhood. Since 2015, Favel and others evolved the patrol mandate. The group is now a welcome wagon, resource service, cleanup crew, conflict meditator and youth organization all in one. Their most recent event was an open house for New Canadians, including the Hamrasho family.

“On patrol, we’re like goodwill ambassadors. We want to get back that feeling of living together as a village,” says Favel, executive director of the Bear Clan Patrol.

“On patrol, we’re like goodwill ambassadors. We want to get back that feeling of living together as a village.”

When patrollers encounter someone in need — any need — they act as a link to community resources. Favel tells us they’ve connected homeless individuals with housing and employment services, addicts with rehab facilities, and even helped citizens get enumerated to vote.

Along their routes, Bear Clan members pick up trash, particularly used drug paraphernalia. Since this past spring, Favel estimates his teams have collected more than 3,000 discarded needles.

All of the patrollers are volunteers who receive instruction in physical and mental health first aid. A few are also trained in non-violent conflict resolution. A local paramedic service was so impressed with Bear Clan’s work that they donated a defibrillator — and the time to teach members how to use it.

Youth under 18 cannot join Bear Clan’s evening patrols for safety reasons, so the organization runs “mock patrols” for young people. These daylight excursions with elder Bear Clan volunteers provide lessons in street proofing and drug awareness, and give youth a chance to become part of the fabric of their community.

“I have 14-year-olds who want to spend their evenings with Bear Clan when they turn 18, instead of going to bars,” says Favel.

Your community may not face the same intense challenges the Bear Clan handles in Winnipeg. Still, there are many ways for a creative neighbourhood watch group to make a difference — shovelling snow for elderly neighbours, delivering meals to exhausted new parents, or welcoming an immigrant family.

That’s what watching out for each other really looks like.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day. For more dispatches from WE, check out WE Stories at we.org.

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-upgrade-to-the-new-neighbourhood-watch/feed0Neighbourhood watchcraigkielburgerEdie Falco talks The Menendez Murders, and that big curly wighttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/edie-falco-talks-the-menendez-murders-and-that-big-curly-wig
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/edie-falco-talks-the-menendez-murders-and-that-big-curly-wig#respondMon, 06 Nov 2017 23:04:46 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765820]]>You may think you know why brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their wealthy parents back in 1989, and the nitty gritty of the much-publicized trial that followed in 1994: Ruthless, spoiled kids seek a fat inheritance, case closed. But actress Edie Falco, who plays their lawyer Leslie Abramson in the eight-part series about the trial, dares you to take another look.

Airing Tuesdays on Global and NBC, Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders builds on the uptick of true-crime shows — Making a Murderer on Netflix, and The People v. O. J. Simpson on FX among them — that have proven successful with audiences.

Aiming to dissect all the personalities, media circus and behind-the-scenes drama that surrounded the real-life case, it’s the first edition of an anthology series that airs under the Law & Order banner. Falco spoke about revisiting the notorious case, finding the humanity in Abramson, and donning that unmistakable curly wig.

Q: What were your feelings about the Menendez case back when it was happening in 1994?

A: I was only peripherally aware of it, so I didn’t attach much emotion to it. It just seemed pretty clear that two bratty kids who wanted the money killed their parents. But in revisiting it, I found out how much was going on that the public was not made aware of. What went on with these boys when they were young that made murder seem like an option to them.

Q: How did you approach taking on a quote-unquote unlikeable character like Leslie Abramson, who was criticized for defending the brothers?

A: You got to find out what they love, what is it that makes this woman tick. She loved her work, which I can totally relate to. She was passionate about what she did, about seeing her clients as humans, and seeing to it that the people judging them saw them as humans too. To give them a shot at some justice.

Edie Falco in Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders[NBC]

Q: Appearance-wise, you’re totally transformed with that curly wig. Has it become a key part of becoming Leslie for you?

A: It sure is helpful because I don’t look like myself anymore. But my mother back in that time had that exact hair, but red. A giant curly perm, and I loved it. I look very much like my mother, so more than me thinking I look like Leslie Abramson, I’m thinking I’ve turned into my mother.

Q: When the show was announced, there were comparisons to The People Vs. OJ Simpson — how do you think this show has differentiated itself?

A: Certainly there are a lot of similarities, but it is part of the Law & Order Franchise, so it’s got the Dick Wolf stamp on it. I had watched the eight-part O.J. show and realized the appeal of re-looking at something you think you know, and then seeing all the things you didn’t know, and then allowing opinions inside yourself to shift. Revisiting an old crime story with new details in eight parts, it was a perfect time frame to really get into stuff deeply.

Q: Some of your most memorable roles have been flawed characters like Leslie — for example, Jackie Peyton on Nurse Jackie, who had a drug habit, and Carmela Soprano on The Sopranos, a mob wife.

A: Everyone I know is a flawed character. That does not make them unlovable — it makes them more complicated to love. The audience these days seems to want to see those people portrayed so they can say, “I’m like that, or I know a person like that.” Those are the characters who move me most — those that are struggling with the day-to-dayness of it all, of how to be a good person.

Q: Are there any true-crime cases you’d like to see made into a show?

A: It takes a certain stomach to get into the nuts and bolts of those sorts of things. Like the horrible case of the woman who drowned her two kids because her boyfriend didn’t want kids. You want to know how that could have ever made sense to that woman. But everything changes when you have kids, and it has weakened my appetite for a lot of those things.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/edie-falco-talks-the-menendez-murders-and-that-big-curly-wig/feed0Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murdersmhank2012Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez MurdersFlour Power host Jessica McGovern keeps desserts retro and funhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/flour-power-host-jessica-mcgovern-keeps-desserts-retro-and-fun
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/flour-power-host-jessica-mcgovern-keeps-desserts-retro-and-fun#commentsMon, 06 Nov 2017 20:59:38 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765807]]>Of all the hobbies filling Jessica McGovern’s time — acting, singing, dancing, playing piano and kung fu — she chose in her new TV series to focus on the one that would cause her dad the most duress: baking desserts.

“I am helplessly addicted to sugar. My poor dad is a dentist, so he’d kill me, but I’m giving business to dentists!” she says with a laugh.

McGovern runs the baking school Lincoln Apartment Bakery in Montreal and just released the Lincoln Apartment Bakery Cookbook, a compilation of foolproof recipes with insider tips and shortcuts. She also hosts the retro-tastic baking show Flour Power, airing Fridays on Gusto.

Dolled up in 1950s-inspired garb and picture-perfect pincurls, McGovern favours recipes that could give you cavities by association: Think blueberry-cream cheese strudel, carrot cake with caramel drip, raspberry-chocolate ganache torte, s’mores bars and chocolate-chip cookies, among others. The inspirations for her confections are global.

“I’ve worked in Ghana, China, Argentina, France, Scotland, and now I’m pretty settled in Canada. I’m always looking for new flavours, always trying to pick up classes from local teachers, wherever I am,” she says.

“One of my most popular classes in my school in Montreal is Japanese cheesecake. I discovered that one a few years ago in a basement in a train station in Osaka, and I just couldn’t believe I’d never come across it before.”

Growing up in Ireland, McGovern started helping her mom in the kitchen when she was around six, perfecting things like brown bread and scones. One perennial family favourite? Victorian sponge cake.

“It’s a really simple cake, and I still make it at least once a week in some form,” she says.

“It’s like four ingredients and you can dress it up any way you want — in our house it was often jam, cream and strawberries. We’d sandwich two layers of cake together with lots of whipped cream.”

Keeping with the whimsical retro theme (“baking is fun and playful,” she explains), McGovern shared two recipes that would look right at home on the snazziest of formica-and-chrome kitchen tables.

Lavender Angel Food Cake [Gusto/Bell]

Lavender Angel Food Cake

Ease of preparation: Medium

Yield: 1 (10-inch) cake

“The secret to angel food cake is that the egg whites are all whipped up so you get the air in there, which is what makes it so heavenly. For this one, we put lavender into the merengue frosting, which is a nice twist and gives such a lovely aroma and flavour.”

Use a spice grinder to crush lavender buds and add to mixture. Beat until stiff peaks form. Mix flour and icing sugar into a bowl.

Sift 1/3 of the flour mixture into the egg white mixture and fold in gently. Repeat for next 1/3. Repeat for last 1/3.

Scoop into an ungreased angel food cake tin. Run a knife blade around the pan in a wiggly line — this will get rid of air bubbles.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Place inverted with the open centre of the pan balanced on the neck of a wine bottle to cool for at least 30 minutes. Run a knife around the perimeter of the cake pan to release the cake. Place onto a serving platter.

To make the frosting, add egg whites, caster sugar, cream of tartar, and water to a double boiler. Heat until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Add red and blue food colouring. Whip until stiff peaks form.

Spread on the angel food cake. Top with lavender buds.

Orange-Vanilla Baked Alaska. []

Orange-Vanilla Baked Alaska

Ease of preparation: Hard

Yield: 1 (8-inch) cake

“Baked Alaska is such a fun dessert, but it can be a little intimidating. There’s nothing to be afraid of if the inside, which is frozen, is covered properly with the merengue. You can really crisp up the outside and make it hot and crunchy and delicious while still keeping the inside frozen. I find that really magical and so impressive for anyone you serve it to.”

Ingredients:

Frozen mousse

8 egg yolks (reserve egg whites for meringue)

1 cup (240 ml) sugar

2 tablespoons (30 ml) cornstarch

1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla

¼ cup (60 ml) orange juice

2 tablespoons (30 ml) orange liqueur

2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream, cold

2 tablespoons (30 ml) orange zest

Chiffon cake

3 eggs, separated

6 tablespoons (90 ml) milk

2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil

½ vanilla bean, seeds only

1 cup (240 ml) cake flour, sifted

½ cup (120 ml) sugar, divided

¾ teaspoon (4 ml) baking powder

1/8 teaspoon (0.5 ml) salt

Swiss meringue

8 egg whites

1 cup (240 ml) sugar

¼ teaspoon (1 ml) salt

¼ teaspoon (1 ml) cream of tartar

1 teaspoon (5 ml) orange zest

2 ounces (60 g) orange liqueur, for browning

Method:

To make the frozen mousse, add egg yolks and sugar to a bowl and whisk. Add cornstarch, vanilla, orange juice, and orange liqueur and whisk to incorporate. Put bowl in a bain marie and cook until temperature reaches 180 F (80 C).

Remove from heat and beat until mixture has cooled. Put over top of bowl of ice to cool.

Fit into bowl with mousse, cutting away excess over the top of the bowl, and let freeze 4 hours or more.

To make the meringue, whisk together egg whites, sugar, and salt in a bain marie. Whisk until temperature reaches 150 F (65 C). Take off the heat, add cream of tartar and orange zest and beat until egg whites are thick and glossy.

Release mousse-cake from bowl. Spread meringue over cake. Use a confectionary torch to brown the meringue.

Measure 2 ounces (56 g) of orange liqueur. Place in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until it starts to simmer. Using a long-handled match, light liqueur on fire. Pour over Baked Alaska. Let flame die out — this should take a few seconds.

Jessica McGovern hosts Flour Power [Gusto/Bell]

MORE INSIDER TIPS

• Make sure your cake rises to the occasion: “Do not open the oven when you’re baking — that’s going to lead to everything collapsing on you. You’ve gotta have patience and keep the oven closed right until the end.”

• Keep your cheesecake from cracking: “A water bath is useful for things like cheesecakes, soufflés and crème brûlées. Put the tin into a bigger tin halfway full of water and let it cook in the oven while sitting in the water. That will really let things cook and rise much more gently.”

• Stop your pie dough from shrinking: “Make the dough, chill it, take it out and roll it out into your pie plate and chill it again. That chilling really helps everything stay the perfect shape and size when you put it in the oven.”

Big releases on Nov. 10: Daddy’s Home 2; Murder on the Orient Express.

Big picture: After settling their personal score in the original comedy, Brad (Will Ferrell) and Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) must deal with their intrusive fathers during the holidays, deftly cast as Mel Gibson and John Lithgow. Gibson plays Grandpa Kurt, a macho, insensitive alpha — playing off his own loutish career persona — while John Lithgow plays an earnest extrovert Mr. Whitaker (Ned Flanders meets Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock).

Meanwhile, Murder on the Orient Express is Clue, with a dash of Wes Anderson, meeting a terrifying train trip that will make you think fondly about your last mediocre experience with Via Rail. Based on the novel by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express tells the tale of 13 eccentric strangers stranded on a train in which a grisly murder is committed. Everyone’s a suspect! Can the murderer be uncovering before striking again — or, more importantly, before the next overpriced snack cart rolls by?

Forecast: Daddy’s Home 3 is inevitable, but I’m hoping for a sequel called Murder on Thomas the Tank Engine.

Big picture: The geeks won the culture war years ago. Embrace it (or hire a couple of them to build a time machine to go back and stop the invention of both comic books and fan conventions). You can thank the Twilight Zone … and acclaimed author Philip K. Dick for Electric Dreams. First, technology gets its own serialized, one-hour showcase on Black Mirror, and now sci-fi get the spotlight. This 10-episode, anthology series brings to life chilling parables and alternate realities that take inspiration from Dick’s short stories.

This anthology series features all-star cast including Steve Buscemi, Greg Kinnear, Terrence Howard, Anna Paquin and Vera Farmiga. The premiere episode tells the tale of a technology-free future where humanity’s only mechanism for long-distance communication is mutant telepaths. (You might as well just toss your smart phone once you finish reading this sentence).

Meanwhile, AMC Visionaries: Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics is a six-part documentary exploring the people and events that super-charged the world of comic books — and defined modern pop culture. The Walking Dead creator interviews comic icons such as Stan Lee, Lynda Carter, Kevin Smith and Todd McFarlane. The two-night premiere finishes on Nov. 13. AMC Visionaries is a franchise in which famous artists celebrate the untold stories and fascinating histories of their genres. Past instalments have looked at horror and science fiction.

Forecast: It won’t be long before AMC Visionaries: Reality TV, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Honourable mention: The Long Road Home (Nov. 7, National Geographic). Kate Bosworth and Jason Ritter star in this historical docu-drama which offers a dramatic recreation of the story of a group of U.S. soldiers ambushed in mazelike Sadr City, a suburb of Baghdad. It shares perspective with their families waiting anxiously back home, as well as members of the three rescue missions launched to save the endangered unit. As National Geographic attempts more scripted series, expect less animal kingdom and more humanity.

Big Picture: Taylor Swift is dead … long live Taylor Swift? The international icon and ever-shifting talent is promising yet another incarnation. Given the video for your first single — Look What You Made Me Do — begins with a headstone reading “Here lies Taylor Swift’s Reputation” and wraps up with a zombie version of the singer-songwriter, fans can expect this release to be a thriller.

Meanwhile, Canadian activist and singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie emerges with an anthemic protest album of new and classic material. “What troubles people today are still the same damn issues from 30, 40, 50 years ago,” she says. “War, oppression, inequity, violence, rankism of all kinds, the pecking order, bullying, racketeering and systemic greed.” I guess Bob Dylan got it wrong, the times they weren’t a-changin. Medicine Song’s first single is a Tanya Tagaq collaboration called You Got to Run (Spirit of the Wind).

Forecast: Sainte-Marie wins this songwriting battle by reputation and record. We could all use some musical medicine. But Taylor will win the radio battle, and the battle to trap lyrics and beats on repeat in your poor, unsuspecting head.

Honourable mention: Billy Ray Cyrus (Set the Record Straight). I assume Billy sets the record straight on two things: No one broke his achy breaky heart … and his best contribution to music is fathering Miley Cyrus.

Canadian Bachelor Chris Leroux is having a little too much luck. He seems to be hitting it off really well with not one or two, but four or five of the women in the house. And since this is The Bachelor — not Sister Wives — he’s going to have to narrow it down. This week he got all bedroom-eyed with Kait, enjoyed dozens (if not hundreds) of passionate lip-locks with Mikaela, connected with Catie during a steamy yoga date and made out with house nemesis Brittany. The chemistry with all of these women feels like the real deal — but mind you, so did his first meeting with Dee, and she went back home to be with her young daughter this week. Lara also failed to secure a rose, and was sent back to Baltimore, Ont. Up next: The feud between Brittany and Jessie will undoubtedly reach its boiling point. Oh yeah, the element is on (Wednesday, W Network).

Clearing the floor

Shocker alert! This week’s Halloween guest star — the Grim Reaper, of course — had a heyday, eliminating not one but two couples on Monday night. Even host Tom Bergeron sheepishly admitted, “Well, this is a bit of a surprise,” before he revelead that both Vanessa Lachey and Maks Chmerkovskiy AND Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev were getting the hook. Cue gasps of surprise. Most shocking, of course, was Lachey’s elimination. The mom of three and wife of fellow eliminee Nick Lachey seemed determined to capture that Mirrorball trophy. But now she can get back home to the kids, so really, still winning. Up next: Third wheels are the hottest accessory on trios night (Monday, City/ABC).

The Voice carries on

Note to all of the singers still competing on this season of The Voice: Dreams can come true. They did for former competitor RaeLynn, who was hired on as a songwriter for major Nashville company Tree Vibez Music this week. RaeLynn also has a No. 1 country album (Wildhorse) and a hit single (God Made Girls) under her belt. And the fact that she co-writes almost all of her tracks also earns her major props in the biz. Meanwhile, the season 13 contestants moved on to the Knockouts round this week, and three of the judges used their steals (Jennifer Hudson stole Noah Mac from Blake Shelton, Shelton stole Kathrina Feigh from Hudson, and Shelton stole Whitney Fenimore from Adam Levine). Up next: More Knockouts (Monday, CTV/NBC).

That’s one of the lasting impressions from John Scheinfeld’s documentary on John Coltrane, the reverence people have for the legendary jazz saxophonist. In Chasing Trane, most of the interviewees — including family members, musicians, journalists and former U.S. president Bill Clinton — speak in awe and sometimes hushed tones about Coltrane’s musicianship as well as his spirituality. You can practically see the pedestal.

What is it about Coltrane’s music that inspires such reverence? Was there a 20th-century musician who more embodied the combination of musicality and spirituality? Maybe not — not many musicians have had a church started in their name. At one point in Chasing Trane, guitarist Carlos Santana says Coltrane’s sound “rearranges molecular structures.”

That’s heady stuff, but Chasing Trane isn’t a heady doc. Through the eyes of others, Scheinfeld personalizes the man behind the mythological music. (The quotes from Coltrane are voiced by Denzel Washington.) In one endearing anecdote, stepdaughter Antonia Andrews describes how Coltrane walked home from a gig during a snowstorm to help save money to buy her new shoes.

The enlightening personal stories complement the main story of Coltrane’s wide-ranging musical life. Chasing Trane traces his career from his North Carolina beginnings to his death in July 1967 at age 40 from liver cancer.

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary[]

He packed a lot in, and Chasing Trane more than covers the high points. Some examples: His two tenures with Miles Davis in the 1950s produced some of the most acclaimed jazz in history, including Kind of Blue (1959) — considered by many to be the best jazz album of the bunch. Coltrane’s swirling soprano-sax interpretation of My Favourite Things in 1961, reinvented a show tune and became a hit.

He then added bassist Jimmy Garrison to pianist McCoy Tyner (interviewed in the documentary and the only living band member), and drummer Elvin Jones in what would become known as the classic quartet.

In December 1964, the foursome recorded what’s considered Coltrane’s spiritual and musical apex: A Love Supreme. Chasing Trane provides extensive background and commentary on A Love Supreme, which features a final movement titled Psalm. Coltrane wrote a liner prayer for Psalm and interpreted it via his tenor saxophone. His spirituality and music are entwined; the documentary makes that clear.

After A Love Supreme, Coltrane continued his search by exploring more abrasive — or what he called “cleansing” — sounds and adding musicians to the classic quartet. He lost a lot of fans, critics and musicians in the process — Tyner and Jones both left by the end of 1965. Chasing Trane explores the pro and con reaction, but doesn’t go into much detail about Coltrane’s polarizing final musical phase. Coltrane’s free-jazz landmark Ascension — recorded with 10 other musicians about six months after A Love Supreme — is heard on the soundtrack but not discussed. There is, however, plenty of detail on the final year of Coltrane’s tragically short life, including fascinating coverage of his tour of Japan.

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary[PBS]

As you would expect, Chasing Trane is crammed with music from Coltrane’s career, but it’s very much a visual documentary as well. Gorgeous photos from jazz’s heyday of the 1950s and ‘60s, concert and studio footage and never-before-seen home movies help present the humanity behind the musical icon.

Chasing Trane accomplishes dual goals: Coltrane devotees will cherish it, but it’s also accessible enough for the uninitiated to enjoy. The documentary will undoubtedly inspire those same uninitiated to explore Coltrane’s music. And once you start to explore it, it becomes a labour of love. A love supreme.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/music/chasing-trane-documentary-captures-spirit-john-coltrane/feed0Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentarypostmedianews1Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane DocumentaryChasing Trane: The John Coltrane DocumentaryHapag-Lloyd Cruises stylish globetrotter gets refithttp://o.canada.com/travel/hapag-lloyd-cruises-stylish-globetrotter-gets-refit
http://o.canada.com/travel/hapag-lloyd-cruises-stylish-globetrotter-gets-refit#respondFri, 03 Nov 2017 17:56:37 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765784]]>I recently went to New York City for a single day, just to see Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ beautiful, ultra-luxury flagship, the Europa 2. The 500-guest ship – recognized as one of the world’s only five-star-plus ships by Berlitz – underwent her most dramatic refit at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg in September.

Since her launch in 2013, this is only her fourth visit to the Big Apple. Her yearly itineraries vary greatly. Ports are rarely repeated, and the line doesn’t feel pressured to follow the lead of other cruise lines. Although the line attracts guests primarily from Europe, every voyage on Europa 2 is fully bilingual throughout, and the thoughtful staff switch effortlessly between German and English.

Armed with my notes from my cruise around Greece and Turkey three years ago, I boarded Europa 2 at her Manhattan berth to see what this extensive refit has in store for guests.

The changes to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ flagship have been sweeping. The former Herrenzimmer lounge on Deck 4 has been given a brand-new look that removes much of the original’s dark, leathery décor, replacing it instead with vibrant green accent walls, new furniture, and fascinating artwork (check out the painting by Hamburg-based duo Sutosuto of a lady zebra smoking a cigar and drinking a cocktail to see what I mean).

Renamed Collins, the bar still offers the largest gin collection at sea, with 45 varieties from around the world ready to enjoy. I still credit my first cruise onboard Europa 2 with introducing me to the world of gin; a spirit I thought I genuinely didn’t enjoy until I realized I hadn’t been drinking the right one.

One of my favourite new features in Collins is the addition of a turntable and a collection of vinyl records that guests can select and play at their leisure. It’s a nice, thoughtful touch – one of many that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has installed aboard Europa 2.

High up on Deck 10, the Belvedere Observation Lounge has gained a new onboard library, with English and German fiction and nonfiction titles lining its walls. This was always one of my favourite spots aboard Europa 2, but it was chronically under-utilized. Now, with a bevy of books, new seating options, and a dedicated coffee bar, I’d expect more guests to take advantage of this great space. Floor-to-ceiling windows also give way to one of the best outdoor viewing decks I’ve seen on a ship, which wraps around the entire vessel.

Elsewhere, the vibrant Jazz Club retains its saturated reddish-purple décor, but gains a new name. As Club2, guests can still enjoy plenty of nightly live music in this great space, with its high ceilings and cool club vibe.

Throughout Europa 2, I was pleased to find new carpets, reupholstered furniture, and little added touches from bow to stern. In total, nine areas were reconstructed or reconfigured, including the ship’s main show lounge and the soothing Ocean Spa, which received new saunas, steam baths, and an improved layout.

During her drydock in September, workers laid 43,055 square feet of new carpeting and used 5,000 litres of new paint to keep Europa 2 looking spectacular. Most cruise ships receive regular drydocks every three to five years, where carpets are changed out and maintenance performed. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises takes Europa 2 out of service for a few weeks every other year – something that helps the ship maintain its coveted five-star-plus status.

Besides being one of the world’s most luxurious ships, Europa 2 might just be the most adventurous: a stylish, bilingual globetrotter sailing the world on voyages of discovery, each and every day.

Happy cruising.

Portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-410-4744, www.cruise.center, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly atportsandbowsaaron@gmail.com

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/hapag-lloyd-cruises-stylish-globetrotter-gets-refit/feed0csm_EUROPA2_Schiff_Bug_548a4a3c66aaronpsaundersFrankie Drake Mysteries celebrates strong womenhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/frankie-drake-mysteries-celebrates-strong-women
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/frankie-drake-mysteries-celebrates-strong-women#commentsThu, 02 Nov 2017 19:13:11 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765759]]>Make no mistake: CBC’s new heroine Frankie Drake isn’t just William Murdoch with a wig and lipstick. Sure, both characters are Toronto-based detectives. Both are situated in the early 20th century. And both have mysterious show titles — it’s Frankie Drake Mysteries and Murdoch Mysteries, respectively, and both hail from the same production company, Shaftesbury.

“Maybe very early on that was something that was kicking around, but every time that gets mentioned, the creators Michelle Ricci and Carol Hay (who are both writers on Murdoch Mysteries), say it’s not really,” she explains.

“I guess we’re similar in the sense that we have stand-alone episodes and we’re private detectives, so there’s the element of some crime that is being solved. But other than that, it’s going to be pretty much its own show.”

Debuting Monday on CBC, Frankie Drake Mysteries weaves its stories around Drake Private Detectives, the city’s only detective agency run by — gasp! — women. Frankie and her partner Trudy Clarke (Chantel Riley), do their sleuthing-est best in the age of fly boys, gangsters, rum-runners and speakeasies.

In the first episode, Frankie becomes a suspect in a jewelry heist and teams up with an unlikely ally played by Saving Hope’s Wendy Crewson. Other guest stars this season include Lucas Bryant (Haven), Steven Lund (Bitten), and Derek McGrath (Little Mosque on the Prairie).

“We sort of dive right into a case and into Frankie and Trudy’s friendship. We’re not going to get a whole lot of backstory into how they became partners and how their friendship evolved — I think that’s going to slowly trickle in as the season progresses. But you will get a sense of their sisterhood,” says Smith.

“In the first four episodes, we’re going to see a lot of action, adventure, a lot of incredible guest stars coming on. There are amazing costumes, amazing sets and maybe some relationship stuff.”

Before landing the lead role on Frankie Drake, the Vancouver-born actress starred on CBC’s This Life as Maggie Lawson, the sister of a woman diagnosed with cancer and a relentless questioner of norms. The drama was cancelled in January after two seasons; Smith received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for her role. Before that, she starred as police sergeant Michelle McCluskey in CTV’s fantasy drama The Listener.

“I really, obviously, enjoy playing very strong female characters. And I thought that Frankie Drake was a big departure from the last show I had done,” Smith says, adding that she also admires many of the real-life women in her orbit.

“Right now my inspiration comes from other mothers. I’m a mother to a one-year-old, and when I look around at the sleep-deprived moms at the park, there’s always a nod of acknowledgment of, ‘OK. We made it through nap time. We’re here.’

“I also look at my own mother, who did the majority of raising three children on her own, and I think that takes superhuman strength that I can’t fathom. I don’t know how she did it. ”

Frankie Drake Mysteries debuts Monday, Nov. 6, on CBC

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/frankie-drake-mysteries-celebrates-strong-women/feed1Frankie Drake Mysteriesmhank2012Frankie Drake MysteriesGGBooks winners announcedhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/books/2017-ggbooks-winners-announced
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/books/2017-ggbooks-winners-announced#respondWed, 01 Nov 2017 10:00:22 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765742]]>Joel Thomas Hynes, Graeme Wood, Hiro Kanagawa and Cherie Dimaline are among the winners of this year’s 2017 Governor General’s Literary Awards. The Canada Council for the Arts made the announcement today, naming 14 winners published in English and French.

The recipients were culled from 70 finalists, and included both new and established authors, illustrators and translators. They will be honoured at a ceremony Nov. 29 in Ottawa, where Governor General Julie Payette will present the awards.

“The 2017 GGBooks winners reflect the soaring literary ambitions of the writers, translators, illustrators and publishers,” said Simon Brault, the Canada Council director and CEO. “They dispense the essential doses of Canadian imagination, fantasy, ideas, dreams and analysis that a growing number of readers are appreciating and celebrating.”

Hynes, from St. John’s, N.L., won in the fiction category for We’ll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night (HarperCollins Publishers), while Wood, from Connecticut, won in the non-fiction category for The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State (Random House/Penguin Random House).

Port Moody, B.C., native Kanagawa took the award in drama for Indian Arm (Playwrights Canada Press). In the poetry category, Richard Harrison of Calgary came out on top for On Not Losing My Father’s Ashes in the Flood (Buckrider Books/Wolsak and Wynn Publishers).

Young people’s literature was broken into two categories: In text, Toronto native Dimaline won for The Marrow Thieves (Dancing Cat Books/Cormorant Books); in illustrated books, David Alexander Robertson of Winnipeg and Julie Flett of Vancouver scored for When We Were Alone (HighWater Press).

And in the translation from French to English category, Readopolis by Montreal’s Oana Avasilichioaei (a translation of Lectodôme by Bertrand Laverdure, published by Le Quartanier) found the top spot. It is published by BookThug.

In the French-language young people’s literature categories, L’importance de Mathilde Poisson (Bayard Canada) by Véronique Drouin won in text, while Azadah (Les Éditions de la Pastèque) by Jacques Goldstyn won in illustrated books.

Finally, in the translation from English to French category, the winner was Un barbare en Chine nouvelle (Les Éditions du Boréal) by Daniel Poliquin. It is a translation of Barbarian Lost: Travels in the New China (HarperCollins Publishers) by Alexandre Trudeau.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/books/2017-ggbooks-winners-announced/feed0David Alexander Robertsonmhank2012Oana AvasilichioaeiGlobal Voices: How statisticians are changing the worldhttp://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-how-statisticians-are-changing-the-world
http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-how-statisticians-are-changing-the-world#respondTue, 31 Oct 2017 06:15:53 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765672]]>Some heroes wear blue helmets and stand in the line of fire to maintain peace. Others bring food to those on the brink of starvation. And some wield a calculator.

These heroes rarely make headlines, yet without them most of the United Nations’ goals would be unachievable. In honour of World UN Day this month, we raise our glasses to its least recognized champions — the statisticians.

These bean counters are changing the world.

“Counting counts. If we’re not counting, we can’t see where the gaps are and what we’ve accomplished,” says Kathryn White, president and CEO of the UN Association in Canada.

UN statisticians gather unimaginable reams of data that shape national and global policy in every imaginable area. Their calculations can alter our understanding of global issues.

Perceptions about the role of women and the economy in developing regions changed drastically when UN statisticians delved deep into gender-specific stats in the early 1990s, White says.

Previously, poverty-fighting initiatives rarely considered gender. But crunched numbers indicated that targeted investment in women’s empowerment had a major impact on poverty and other social issues. Every additional year that a girl attends school results in a 9.5 per cent decrease in child mortality. Increasing income for women results in better education and health for children; they are more likely than men to use resources to benefit the whole family.

Governments and development organizations shifted focus to women’s empowerment.

Studies also showed that men tended to hoard food aid rations for sale, while women were more likely to share it with their families, leading to better child nutrition. So food aid programs began began working directly with women wherever possible.

The UN’s flagship statistical document, the annual Human Development Report, launched in 1990, has inspired more than 140 countries to engage in similar statistical self-examination, supported by the UN, with big benefits. During Uganda’s AIDS epidemic, better data tracked factors that spread the disease, leading to programs that have significantly reduced the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The country of Jordan identified its most impoverished districts, and targeted them with employment and development programs, boosting quality of life.

Today, the UN Statistics Division partners with more than 30 national statistics agencies around the world, building and mining big data that will help both the UN and individual countries develop policies and programs to address social and environmental issues. For example, together the UN and Statistics Canada developed indexes on remoteness and accessibility to services like health care and transportation. These will help future programs for hard-to-reach rural and northern communities.

“We need to ensure that everyone is counted, especially the most poor and vulnerable. We need local statistics to ensure that every child has access to education and we need global statistics to monitor the overall effects of climate change,” said Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary General, in a statement for World Statistics Day earlier this month.

So here’s to the analysts, the number-crunchers and the bean counters of the UN. The knowledge they provide promotes world change.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day. For more dispatches from WE, check out WE Stories.

In honour of Halloween, here’s a look at some chilling, creepy — and fun — musical moments through the years.

Scariest album cover: Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath (1970). Looks like the Blair Witch posed for an album cover. I remember seeing this in a mall in Halifax when I was a kid; it haunted me all the way to the food court.

When a ballad isn’t a ballad, part 1: Elvis Costello, Alison (1977). Costello has denied it, but the song could easily be interpreted as a lover plotting the murder of his newly married ex: “I think somebody better put out the big light.” And, of course, the chorus: “Alison, I know this world is killing you / Oh Alison, my aim is true.” Great vocal, though!

When a ballad isn’t a ballad, part 2: The Police, Every Breath You Take (1983). The brooding, bass-driven song was a massive hit, topping the charts in five countries — including this one. Misinterpreted by many as a love song, Sting told The Independent in 1993: “It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn’t realize at the time how sinister it is. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance and control.” I guess. “Every breath you take, every move you make, I’ll be watching you.” Cue the restraining order.

Ozzy Osbourne gets hungry and horrific at a 1981 record-label event. In maybe the most infamous moment in modern music history, a drunk Osbourne bit the heads off — not one — but two doves. The original plan was for Ozzy to release three doves after a short speech, as a symbolic peace offering to executives at Epic Records.

Ozzy Osbourne []

Who knew zombies could dance?: Michael Jackson’s Thriller video (1983). An event. Everyone wanted to see this when it came out, whether they admitted it or not (I didn’t). A groundbreaking 14 minutes of choreographed, mock-horror funk. The funk of 40 thousand years, according to Vincent Price.

Howl like you mean it: Warren Zevon, Werewolves of London (1978). Recorded with John McVie and Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac … but who cares? Let’s get to the chorus: “Aaoooooo! Werewolves of London! Aaoooooo!”

The sweet spot: The Strangeloves, I Want Candy (1965). Who doesn’t want candy? It’s Halloween! This sweet song incorporates the Bo Diddley beat and has been covered by many over the years, including Bow Wow Wow in 1982. The new wave band’s version was included on the soundtrack for the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite, which is still a great source for Halloween costumes. #vote4pedro

Time Warp forever: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). If Napoleon Dynamite is a great source for Halloween costumes, this campy, music-crammed classic is the mothership.

Witchy Women: Eagles, Witchy Woman (1972); Fleetwood Mac, Rhiannon (1975); Kate Bush, Waking the Witch (1985). Don Henley sings about a raven-haired, ruby-lipped seductress with sparks flying from her fingertips. Stevie Nicks tells of a catlike woman who is the darkness, but just might take you to heaven. Bush’s tale is a harrowing account of a woman accused of being a witch by a priest and the local “good people.” Anyway you look at it — double, double toil and trouble.

Marilyn Manson: Self-explanatory. Manson’s persona is an updated version of …

Marilyn Manson []

Leave a light on: Alice Cooper, Welcome to My Nightmare (1975): The golf-loving shock rocker takes listeners through the nightmares of a child. Known for his gory stage shows, Cooper released a sequel in 2011 (Welcome 2 My Nightmare).

It’s a deal!: Virtuoso violinist Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) and blues icon Robert Johnson (1911-1938) are among those musicians rumoured to have made a deal with the devil to advance their art.

There, there … : The Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil (1968): Lucifer confesses his sins in this classic kickoff track to the Beggars Banquet album.

Janet Leigh in Psycho. []

That’s one hot fiddler: Charlie Daniels Band, The Devil Went Down to Georgia (1979). Satan picked on the wrong guy when he challenged Johnny to a fiddling contest. After Johnny wins, he calls the devil a “son of a bitch.” Now that’s just rude.

AAAAAAHHHHHH!: The shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). It’s been outgored thousands of times since, but the murder of Marion Crane (portrayed by Janet Leigh), in the shower still wins for drama, tension and that unforgettable soundtrack, composed by Bernard Herrmann. The high-pitched shrieks from the string section echo the thrusts of the knife.

Stay off the ice: Kate Bush, Under Ice (1985). Bush’s chilling, first-person account of a skater falling through ice into a lake stays with you. The choppy, stringlike synthesizers sound like a skater’s strides … until they stop. Waking the Witch and Under Ice are both from Bush’s album Hounds of love.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big releases on Nov. 3: Thor: Ragnarok.

Big picture: Thor has no hammer, a lot less hair and slightly less of an Asgard superiority complex. Plus, he shares screen time with a far more likable Avenger, The Hulk (and any time underrated actor Mark Ruffalo is on the screen, things are looking up.)

This time around, Thor must also join forces with his evil-ish brother Loki to help save Asgard from an all-powerful (yes, another one) new threat. But first Thor must escape an intergalactic gladiator arena contest that pits him against his big green ally. (Here’s hoping that smug look gets pummelled out of Thor for good.)

Forecast: This Thor sequel — and its hero — benefit from not taking themselves so seriously in this sequel. Thor fun? Sure. Why not? Next time around, I predict an action rom-com co-starring Spider-Man in which the young Spidey schools Thor in how not to be the most boring, brooding super hero at the party, and they hit the trendy Brooklyn bar scene.

Potential sample banter. Spidey: “Is that a hammer in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me, Thor?” Thor (straight-faced and earnest): “It’s a hammer.” Tough crowd, webslinger. Tough crowd.

Big picture: Must EVERY Aaron Spelling series get a reboot? (And, if so, can the next one be The Love Boat starring Bill Murray as Capt. Merrill Stubing?) As for S.W.A.T., the name says all you need to know. A show based on a long forgotten mid-1970s L.A. cop drama — which inspired a more recently forgettable 2003 film — isn’t encouraging at first glance. But the series does come from The Shield creator Shawn Ryan, and Justin Lin (Fast Five) directs the pilot. Maybe there is hope for the right blend of brains and brawn?

Meanwhile, Alias Grace is the second Margaret Atwood adaptation to jump to the small screen this year (after the award-winning The Handmaid’s Tale). This six-episode miniseries is inspired by a small-town Canadian murder in 1843. Adding its red-and-white pedigree? The series is written by Sarah Polley (Away From Her) and Canadian director David Cronenberg is in the supporting cast. Huh?

Forecast: I’m not the only one who would have preferred a series called Thor: S.W.A.T. “Hulk smash puny humans trying to make money off another derivative cop show.”

Big picture: Pop-rockers Maroon 5 takes inspiration from this famous Matrix line: “You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” Suffice it to say that America took the red pill last November, and the rabbit hole gets ever deeper every day.

Meanwhile, Sam Smith soothes with his high-pitched coos and croons on the highly anticipated followup to his 2014 breakthrough debut. This time around, let’s hope the English singer doesn’t release anymore songs that sound like hits by the late, great Tom Petty. However, the album does feature a Tim — as in Timbaland — on the ballad Pray.

“It’s eight sexy women and one OK-looking guy,” Canadian Bachelor Chris Leroux declared at the start of this week’s Costa Rica-set group date. However you feel about Canada’s Bachelor, you’ve gotta admire the self-deprecation. And the women somehow managed to make the (less endearing) mechanical bull-riding challenge look good, despite the fact fake bulls still have horns and, well, that could hurt. But it was all part of the Costa Rican fun, which also included ziplining, surfing and underappreciated cuisine prepared by bachelorette Brittany M. — aka the house nemesis. The girls wouldn’t eat Brit’s concoctions because they were convinced she was trying to fatten them up. They also seem to be convinced the Calgary pageant queen is an actress, and not “here for the right reasons.” I mean, she does have a knack for finding her perfect angle in almost every scene — er, real-life scenario. Meanwhile, Victoria’s Kait opened up about her recently broken heart — and won the rose — on a romantic beach date with Chris. But if anyone is a shoo-in for the final rose at this point, it’s Vancouver publicist Lyndsey. Mark my word. Goodbyes: Brittany W. of Surrey and April of Vancouver are headed back to B.C. sans roses. Up next: More steamy adventures in Costa Rica (Wednesday, W Network).

Dazzling dad moment

Let’s admit, Nick Lachey was a bit of a mess this week. The former 98 Degrees singer was having trouble with the samba, telling pro partner Peta Murgatroyd he felt like “a buffoon” and “an idiot trying to be a dancer.” But instead of bailing, he took the opportunity to teach his children — Camden, 5, Brooklyn, 2, and 10-month-old Phoenix — a lesson about persistence. “I came into this competition to challenge myself. I tell my five-year-old: ‘Once you commit to something, stick it out.’ I would never want him to look at dad and think dad was a quitter,” he said Monday. “It’s not an easy thing to be confident doing something you’re not in, so I have to come out and sell it as if I’m the best dancer in the world.” Lachey did get eliminated, but in his offspring’s eyes, he’s a winner. Up next: Just when you thought the costumes couldn’t get any flashier … Halloween-themed performances (Monday, ABC/City).

The Battle is real

That’s it for The Battle Round (which is really just a sing-off) on The Voice. Team Miley’s Ashland and Megan’s performance of Good Hearted Woman was, according to Adam Levine, probably the best Battle the show has ever seen — which is why Blake stole Megan from Miley after Miley chose to keep Ashland on her team. So really, that particular Battle isn’t quite over …

Children’s books have come a long way in the 40 years I’ve been reviewing them and Canadian authors/illustrators have earned their place among the finest creators of children’s literature worldwide. I remember being surprised — and proud — the first time I spotted a Canadian kids’ book prominently displayed in a U.S. bookstore. These days, that’s commonplace. And publishers are making a real effort now to deliver books in which any child can recognize him/herself. Diversity has become the norm, not the exception.

Stories about Canada’s indigenous people, for example, are no longer as rare as they once were.

The first books I encountered with native characters were generally by white authors – retellings of Inuit tales by James Houston, for example, or May Cutler’s 1975 publication I Once Knew an Indian Woman (written under the pen name Ebbitt Cutler). Today, native writers like Sherman Alexie in the U.S. and Thomas King in Canada have put their considerable talents to use for readers of all ages, including the younger set. The number of children’s books written and illustrated by indigenous authors and artists has grown steadily.

Here are some recent publications worth checking out:

Stolen Words

Melanie Florence, illus. by Gabrielle Grimard

Second Story Press

A Toronto writer of Cree and Scottish heritage, Melanie Florence tells the story of a seven-year-old girl who is puzzled when her grandfather says he can’t remember how to say “grandfather” in Cree. “I lost my words a long time ago,” he tells her, describing how — as a child — he was taken away from his family and sent to a residential school. Quebec artist Gabrielle Grimard matches the author’s poignant but age-appropriate text with illustrations that clearly convey the girl’s concern for her grandfather’s feelings and her joy in finding a way to give him back his language – and learn it herself.

For ages six to nine.

Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation

Monique Gray Smith

Orca Book Publishers

This book tackles the subject in a more comprehensive, factual manner – one aimed at slightly older readers (nine to 13), and particularly appropriate for use in schools. Written by a B.C. author of Cree, Lakota and Scottish ancestry, this non-fiction account of a dreadful part of Canadian history is at its most compelling when the author draws on the first-person accounts of actual survivors.

Lavishly illustrated, the book is divided into four chapters, each of which includes strategically placed pull quotes, definitions, and thought-provoking questions labelled “Reflections” as part of the layout. The author adopts a writing style that leaves readers with the sense she’s engaging them in conversation. Teachers and parents alike could make good use of this book, not only by opening the lines of communication with kids, but also to rethink some of their own preconceived notions about Canadian history and indigenous lives.

Coyote Tales

Thomas King, illus. by Byron Eggenschwiler

Groundwood Books

A foray into writing for children by award-winning author Thomas King, this serves as a reminder that not all native stories involve abuse or isolation. Indigenous culture is rich in storytelling traditions and often encompasses a dry sense of humour. First published in 1998 and 2004, the two trickster tales in this slim volume are newly presented with black-and-white illustrations by Alberta’s Byron Eggenschwiler. For ages eight to 88.

Those Who Run in the Sky

Aviaq Johnston, illus. by Toma Feizo Gas

Inhabit Media

This is one of three books with indigenous content that made this year’s short list for the Governor General Literary Awards in English children’s books. (The Marrow Thieves, by Métis author Cherie Dimaline, published by Dancing Cat Books, is described as a dystopian novel about North America’s indigenous people being hunted and harvested for their bone marrow; When We Were Alone, a picture book by David Alexander Robertson, published by Highwater Press, is about a girl who learns of her grandmother’s life in a residential school, and was nominated for a GG on the strength of the illustrations by Julie Flett. GG winners will be announced Nov. 1. )

Johnston, a young Inuk author who divides her time between Iqaluit, Nunavut, and North Bay, Ont., tells the story of a 16-year-old boy who is recognized for his skills as a hunter and is told he will one day lead his community — and serve as its shaman. In an author’s note at the end of the book, Johnston says she based her fictional account on stories she heard while growing up, and that it reflects “the days before Inuit traditions began to change and adapt to include the things that whalers, traders, and missionaries taught Inuit.”

With occasional black-and-white illustrations by Toma Feizo Gas, the result is a riveting glimpse of a lifestyle many of us can only imagine – together with some truly hair-raising scenes involving the spirit world. A glossary and phonetic guide to Inuktitut words used throughout the book is provided. For age 10 and older.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/books/books-for-kids-stolen-words-speaking-our-truth-coyote-tales-and-more/feed0books for kidspostmedianews1A Seine to behold aboard Tauck river cruiseshttp://o.canada.com/travel/a-seine-to-behold-aboard-tauck-river-cruises
http://o.canada.com/travel/a-seine-to-behold-aboard-tauck-river-cruises#respondFri, 27 Oct 2017 21:49:59 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765708]]>From the Danube to the Rhine, some of the most memorable experiences I’ve had have been on river cruises with Tauck. The Connecticut-based company, which also offers land and small-ship tours, prides itself on its all-inclusive nature and uncommon experiences, and its river cruises are among the very best in Europe.

I joined Tauck’s ms Sapphire in Paris recently to get a first-hand look at its 10-day Rendezvous on the Seine river cruise itinerary. With calls on Rouen, Honfleur, Caudebec-en-Caux, Les Andelys and Vernon, plus an entire day dedicated to visiting the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, this river cruise offers plenty of cultural and historical pull. And at every step of the way, Tauck offered up plenty of evidence that how you see the world really matters.

Start with Paris. Tauck puts you up at the Hotel Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel — literally a block from the Eiffel Tower. They give you a balcony room that faces said tower. To top it off, a private welcome dinner is held on the hotel’s 10th floor, complete with a sunset champagne toast to the start of the trip and France’s famous City of Love.

Tauck gives guests three full days to explore Paris on this itinerary, including ample free time to discover the city on your own. You can opt out of the included excursions at any time (Tauck never sells optional journeys on its river cruises), but why would you when visits to the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and Versailles are on the menu?

The river cruise on the Seine starts in great fashion, with a champagne sailaway up on deck when weather permits. Tauck’s 361-foot (110-metre) long ms Sapphire (also known as the Swiss Sapphire) was totally refurbished last winter from stem to stern, and the results are striking.

Tauck actually took the overall passenger complement down to just 98 guests in order to add 20 new Category 6 staterooms that measure 225 square feet (20.9 square metres) apiece. I occupied one of these spacious rooms, and was impressed at the level of detail and craftsmanship Tauck put into them.

Category 6 (and Category 7) rooms now feature enlarged, marble-clad bathrooms complete with rainfall showers; a proper sitting area with a full-sized table and two chairs; a super-comfortable bed; North American, European and USB power outlets; brand new lighting throughout; in-room Nespresso machines; and totally redesigned lighting that provides half a dozen different modes.

With just 98 guests on a ship that would hold up to 140 on any other line, there’s no competition for anything. The ship’s classy, wood-panelled lounge and dining room always feel spacious and uncrowded, and the ms Sapphire even boasts an alternate dining venue (Arthur’s) that’s positioned facing the stern on Deck 3. Open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily, it serves up more casual fare on a fixed menu, plus some incredible views. It sounds awful to say this, considering we were cruising in France with its many culinary delights, but the made-on-board hamburger was a runaway hit.

That doesn’t mean you’re going to lack for immersive cultural experiences. Three Tauck tour directors travelled with us, all of whom spoke fluent French, and two of whom called France home. Over the course of a week, we were treated to a private dinner and cocktail reception at a French chateau near Rouen; a full-day tour of the D-Day beaches; visits to the quaint seaside towns of Étretat and Honfleur; fresh, locally caught seafood served buffet style up on deck; and a private early morning tour to Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny. At sunrise. Without the crowds.

While the Seine season is over for this year (the ms Sapphire sails her last voyage for 2017 as I type this), Tauck starts up its 2018 departures on April 3. Sailings continue right through October of next year, and Tauck is really ramping up some of the special features. New for next year will be a private, after-hours visit to the Louvre on most departures, and a brand new excursion to Caen to see the Memorial de Caen, widely regarded as one of the best Second World War museums in France.

Making an already great experience on the Seine even better for the coming year: that’s travelling well.

Happy cruising.

Visit Portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-410-4744, www.cruise.center, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly atportsandbowsaaron@gmail.com

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/a-seine-to-behold-aboard-tauck-river-cruises/feed0Ports and Bows Oct 28aaronpsaundersSuperior Donuts star Jermaine Fowler talks ‘Woke TV’http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/superior-donuts-star-jermaine-fowler-talks-woke-tv
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/superior-donuts-star-jermaine-fowler-talks-woke-tv#respondFri, 27 Oct 2017 21:47:53 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765702]]>Can all that ails this world — the social unrest, the blatant injustice, the creepy Elf on the Shelf trend — be solved with a simple fried dough confectionary? Maybe not the Elf on the Shelf (that thing’s just insidious), but the other two are at least drawn under the microscope in the TV comedy Superior Donuts, returning Monday on Global and CBS for its second season.

The interaction between the two — optimistic go-getter millennial versus crusty set-in-his-ways baby boomer — echoes the stereotypical views of their respective generations. And their city, currently much-discussed in the news, lends itself to issues of a grander scale.

“We get to talk about the neighbourhood, police brutality, gentrification and racism. These issues are very important, but you gotta know where these characters are coming from,” says Fowler, who hopes that the characters’ backstories will come to the fore in the new batch of episodes.

“To me that’s important in everyday life, people just listening to each other. People opening up and just accepting that people are different. That way, when someone says something you don’t agree with, then you can at least understand where they’re coming from. And for me, that’s the message of the show.”

Judd Hirsch and Jermaine Fowler in Superior Donuts []

As a co-writer on the series, Fowler says millennials are finding their voices across the television spectrum. In the Superior Donuts writers’ room, for example, the vets are receptive to the newbies, and vice versa.

“I’m 29 — I’m technically a millennial, and we’re the next wave. That’s just how it’s going to be. But the cool thing about that is that we have Generation X to help guide us. On our show, we have a few millennials in the writers’ room,” he says.

“But to help us with the structure of the show, we have the somewhat older generation to help us with their experience. Everyone has to be open-minded to ideas. Everyone has to learn from each other.”

Elsewhere, shows from those in their 20s to mid-30s have been garnering almost as much critical acclaim as Bryan Cranston at his most Walter White.

Atlanta, created by 34-year-old Donald Glover, earned two Emmys for its first season. Insecure, with 32-year-old co-creator Issa Rae, was nominated for a Golden Globe after one season. And Master of None, from 34-year-old creators Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, has won three Emmys over two seasons.

“People want to watch TV that’s relative to the life they’re living.”

Incidentally, Glover, Rae and Anzari all also star in their series. And they all come from minority backgrounds. It’s part of a trend some have described as Woke TV.

“People want to watch TV that’s relative to the life they’re living. And a lot of people in America, they don’t hang around six friends in a bar. They don’t have these close-knit families. They have these very tumultuous households, which is why shows like Mom, Atlanta, Insecure and even Master of None are doing well,” says Fowler, who also finds an audience for his viewpoint in standup comedy.

“People want to watch shows that mirror their lives. So when I say Woke TV, I mean TV that is more broad, for everybody. You’re going to get your TV shows for your normal, common person, but not everyone is like everyone else, and TV is doing a good job of leaning on that. This is the renaissance of television right now that I’m loving. TV is killing it right now.”

Here’s hoping you reach your 90s with even half of the vigour and vitality of Ken Walker. The 94-year-old surgeon, newspaper columnist (Dr. W. Gifford-Jones) and author of 90+ How I Got There (Act Natural Corp, 2015) puts most 40-year-olds to shame in terms of energy, mental clarity, work ethic and sheer nerve.

“I’m always coming up with ideas,” he says over the phone from his home in Toronto. “That scares the hell out of Susan, my wife, when I say I’ve got an idea. That’s when she starts to worry,” he quips.

Some of those ideas have been good — some fall into the category of “good intentions.” In June, he decided it would be a good idea to take part in a charity event led by his son, a longtime Wish Granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation that raises money to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illness. The Rope for Hope challenge required him to rappel 30 storeys down the side of city hall in Toronto. “My wife was not amused and my son worried.”

The daredevil confesses that even he wondered if he was crazy when the day came (for the record: not only had he never rappelled before, he’d never even heard of it).

“I must admit when I drove up to city hall and when I saw some people rappelling down like flies, I thought Aie-yi-yi.”

The ride was “bumpy” and he flipped upside down at one point. “I banged my head a bit and ended up with a few bruises. But I made it to the bottom.”

Ask him what’s the secret to longevity and the author attributes it to the combination of “good genes, good luck, good sense and good rum.”

Ken Walker rappelled 30 storeys down Toronto’s city hall in June during a charity event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. [Gordon Cheong]

Exercise, weighing yourself daily, skipping processed foods and dessert, not smoking and not taking prescription drugs all fall under the “good sense” rubric for Walker (advice he details in his book, which was published when he was 92).

His approach to health is provocative — even a bit rock ’n’ roll. He rages against do-gooders who preach abstemiousness and believes that alcohol, when enjoyed in moderation, is a health tonic (and so much so that he believes there should be a pub in every hospital).

He also advocates an active sex life. “Sex is good exercise. If you have sex three times a week in a year, you’ll burn off 7,500 calories. I’d rather do that then jog 35 miles to burn those calories,” he says.

Sex and rum aside, it’s not easy following his advice. “It’s hard work,” he says. But committing to that effort may play a role in aging well, too. A quick survey of Walker’s full life reveals he’s never been one to shy away from hard work.

The self-confessed workaholic has divided much of his adult working life between two full-time jobs. When he wasn’t administering to his patients in his gynecology practice, the Harvard-educated surgeon was writing. His first book, Hysterectomy: A Book for the Patient (University of Toronto, 1961), was published under the pseudonym Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, a moniker he chose to avoid being accused of using a public profile to solicit for patients.

“The publisher of my first book said when I gave him the name: ‘I like the ring of it and I have the image of a silver-haired surgeon to the Queen of England!’ ”

“I was always for women’s rights and that got me into trouble,” he confides.

Fourteen years and two books later (he’s written nine in total), he made his debut in the Globe and Mail. Today, he’s syndicated in more than 80 papers in Canada and the U.S.

Though he’s retired from his gynecology practice — he saw his last patient at the age of 87 — he’s still writes daily. When asked which of his careers he’s preferred — the doctor’s life or the journalist’s — he says, “both.” That affection for serving the public, both in his practice and as a medical journalist, has seen him stick his neck out in support of controversial health topics over the years.

“I was always for women’s rights and that got me into trouble,” he confides.

His early support for a woman’s right to abortion and access to birth control came at a steep private cost for both him and his family, who were then based in Niagara Falls, Ont. After the law permitting limited abortions in Canada was passed in 1969, “doctors began referring abortions to me and I did them. That’s when life became very difficult,” he shares.

He received death threats and spent nearly a year sleeping with a gun under his pillow.

He received death threats and spent nearly a year sleeping with a gun under his pillow.

A fierce advocate for patients’ rights, he’s used his profile to push for more humane medical care.

In 1979, he penned a column advocating that pharmaceutical-grade heroin be made legal to use as a pain killer for terminal cancer patients, a compassionate practice that had been legal in England for more than a century at the time.

The column struck a chord. “I had 1,200 readers write to me.” He ran with that public support and became an advocate for change.

Eventually, he would deliver 40,000 letters of support to the Minister of Health in Ottawa and was instrumental in seeing the practice legalized in 1984. (It’s remained controversial and has been subject to much back and forth politically. It was banned by Conservatives at one point, but is currently permitted.)

He’s also long been publicly in favour of assisted dying. “We should all have the right to determine our own life and freedom of choice about how we die,” he says.

The good doctor is blunt in his assessment of those who oppose it on the basis of spiritual or ethical concerns. “As Aristotle once said, ‘there’s a stupid corner in the brain of every wise person.’”

Asked if he would do it all again, he hesitates briefly before saying yes. “If I didn’t do it all again, I would be a hypocrite.”

And yes, he’d like another crack at rappelling, too.

“I think I could do it better.”

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/keeping-up-with-dr-w-gifford-jones/feed0Dr. Ken Walker, also known as Dr. W. Gifford-Jonespostmedianews1Ken WalkerGlobal Voices: A tip of the hat for Gordhttp://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-a-tip-of-the-hat-for-gord
http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-a-tip-of-the-hat-for-gord#respondTue, 24 Oct 2017 06:57:28 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765651]]>Backstage, Gord Downie struggled to walk, hands braced on a friend’s shoulders. Yet when he stepped into the stage lights in Toronto, Gord transformed.

From deep reserves he drew strength for the first live performance of The Stranger, off his Secret Path project, and throughout a haunting musical interlude, Gord walked unassisted. He paced the length of the stage with short, stiff strides, every step dedicated to Chanie Wenjack’s last journey.

In more than a decade, we’d never seen a WE Day audience so still. That night in mid-October 2016, singing alongside Pearl Wenjack to tell her brother Chanie’s story, Gord began what he called the most important work of his life.

The Tragically Hip’s final tour had ended just weeks before, and he would spend the next few months on WE Day stages across the country introducing Canadians to Chanie, the 12-year-old boy who died walking, following train tracks while running away from a residential school.

Like all Canadians, we got pulled into the gravitational wake of Gord.

He talked about legacy. Not his own — that had long been cemented in the hearts of Canadian music lovers — but what all of us will leave behind as a nation. He once quipped that people were growing tired of him, having spent a year saying one long goodbye. It was a dark joke, playing at his own mortality. He was the only one who laughed at it, but we understood the subtext.

To accompany the Secret Path album, Gord Downie teamed up with illustrator Jeff Lemire for a graphic novel

Gord wasn’t concerned about his own place in public memory — his final year was dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of residential schools, the long road ahead for reconciliation, and the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Foundation.

Hidden in his self-effacing humour was his greatest fear — he didn’t want the public attention for his cause to die with him.

The Tragically Hip created the soundtrack for Canada. We learned to drive with their iconic songs playing in the background. They wrote the music for campfire singalongs and awkward school dances.

But that is not Gord’s legacy.

Gord dedicated the final year of his life to the most difficult and important conversation we need to have as a nation. Generations from now, he will be remembered as much for his voice as for giving voice to others.

At WE Day Canada this past summer, a youth choir surprised Gord with their own rendition of his mournful tune about Chanie’s story. Through watery eyes, Gord watched 100 young singers interpret his most significant work, taking up the torch for his greatest cause.

As the choir drew to a close, each member pulled out a velvet hat, a tribute to the frontman’s iconic style. With their final notes, they tipped their hats to him.

Let’s all tip our hats to Gord now. Don’t let the project that took up his final months and last energy die with him.

In every city, people would ask Gord how to get involved. He said he was a singer and a poet, so he wrote and sang about it. What do you have to give? If each of us finds our own way to contribute to reconciliation, we honour the legacy of Gord Downie.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day. For more dispatches from WE, check out WE Stories.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big releases on Oct. 27: Suburbicon; Jigsaw

Big picture: Suburbicon is a scary, not-so-subtle stab at the heart of our modern world. George Clooney directs this Coen Brothers-esque dramedy about a peaceful, idyllic suburban community with not-so-buried secrets. Set in 1959, the story centres on stoic husband and father Gardner Lodge (Matt Damon) who must navigate the community’s rotten, violent, secret core.

Meanwhile, Jigsaw offers a bloodier kind of horror as a twisted serial killer, John Kramer, is apparently back from the dead – and coming up with even more creative ways to get people to kill each other.

Forecast: Take your pick. Suburbia or serial killer. What scares you the most? Tough call.

Kiersey Clemons is the voice of Victoria in Michael Jackson’s Halloween []

Big picture: The artist who gave us Thriller inspires a new animated holiday special featuring the voices of Christine Baranski, Jim Parsons and more. Meanwhile, my surprise favourite show of 2016 returns with a vengeance. The ‘80s nostalgia horror trip continues as the Upside Down comes back to haunt the small town of Hawkins, Indiana with a vengeance.

From Stephen Spielberg and Stephen King to Ridley Scott, the classic sci-fi-horror tales of the era are referenced – some overtly and some demonstrably (e.g. Jaws poster, Ghostbuster Halloween costumes). A band of nerdy young super friends must once again unite to save the day. This time the monster is bigger, badder and more ambitious. Far more than the town is at stake.

Finally, David S. Pumpkins is another animated special voiced by the likes of Peter Dinklage and Tom Hanks — and based on the latter’s holiday SNL sketch.

Forecast: Trump? Natural disasters? Losing Tom Petty and Gord Downie. Monsters be damned! Before long, we’re all going to wish we lived in the Upside Down.

Big Picture: Clarkson finds the meaning of her musical life in her first studio album after finishing the recording contract she garnered on American Idol. Free to make her own path, her eighth effort could mark the beginning of new sonic experiments. Meanwhile, old-school country girl Lee Ann Womack wins the award for best album title that could also be the name for your next favourite indie rock band. On her latest, she substitutes Nashville polish for Texas twang.

Forecast: Lady Gaga will release a surprise Halloween single – a cover of the Monster Mash, and the video will co-star the monsters of Sesame Street. (At least she would if I had anything to say about it).

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-oct-23-suburbicon-stranger-things-and-more/feed0Film Review Suburbiconpostmedianews1Michael Jackson's Halloween Kelly ClarksonSweet potatoes say cheesehttp://o.canada.com/life/food/sweet-potatoes-say-cheese
http://o.canada.com/life/food/sweet-potatoes-say-cheese#commentsFri, 20 Oct 2017 21:51:11 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765628]]>Sweet potatoes were a vegetable I came to enjoy in adulthood. They weren’t served at my family dinner table and when served elsewhere they were terrifyingly sweet.

There were marshmallows on top, or heaps of brown sugar and pecans.

Marshmallows were for Rice Krispies squares, roasting on the end of a stick or bobbing on hot chocolate. To experience them on top of a vegetable was just plain weird because dessert is supposed to come later, not along with the meat.

No offence meant to all marshmallows-on-sweet-potato-lovers out there. Marshmallow on!

A large part of the world’s population enjoys them as a sweet. They are popular in Mexico, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and the Philippines as a candied or roasted snack purchased from street vendors.

The “yams” we grow here are actually sweet potatoes. Yams are native to Africa and sweet potatoes to the Americas.

“Yam” might be used because of the slave trade. Seeing the sweet potato, African slaves might have called it “nyami,” the name of a similar plant they were used to eating.

While we’re on the subject, the purple Filipino yam known as “ube” is not a sweet potato. It is a yam.

Yams belong to the Dioscorea family and sweet potatoes to Convolvulaceae. The leaves and stems of the plant are edible. The young leaves can be eaten raw, the older ones cooked like kale or beet greens.

When I started cooking sweet potatoes, I discovered that for my tastes, they needed a counterpoint.

When I started cooking sweet potatoes, I discovered that for my tastes, they needed a counterpoint.

Blue cheese was great and so was Parmesan. Crystallized or fresh ginger and Middle Eastern or Indian spicing was also very good.

And I was good with adding a drizzle of maple syrup or honey to coax up the sweetness a little without making it cloying.

It’s a very exciting time in sweet potato land because of the varieties available.

Toss with the oil, thyme and salt and arrange on two, large, rimmed baking sheets.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, turning over halfway through the baking time until tender. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. With a fork, press down on each round to crush it slightly.

Combine the butter, garlic, Worcestershire and Tabasco sauce. Spoon a little over each round. Pop under the broiler 8 inches (20 cm) from the heat until lightly browned.

Top each with the cheese and return to the broiler until the cheese is bubbly. Serve immediately.

Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Dukkah []

Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Dukkah

Dukkah is an Egyptian blend of nuts — commonly hazelnuts, though others can be used or added — sesame seeds and spices.

Usually used as a dip with olive oil for bread, it’s wonderful sprinkled on feta, chicken and white fish. Most supermarkets carry it if you don’t feel like making it, though fresher is better.

Makes: 6-8 servings

2 lb (907 g) sweet potatoes, peeled

4 tbsp (60 mL) extra virgin olive oil

1½ tsp (7.5 mL) salt

2 tbsp (30 mL) unsalted butter, melted

2 tbsp (30 mL) honey

3-4 tbsp (45-60 mL) dukkah, recipe follows

Heat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC). If you have great knife skills, slice the potatoes into 1/16 to1/8-inch (1.5-3 mm) rounds. If not, use a food processor or mandoline.

Toss the slices with the oil and salt. The slices will tend to clump together and that’s fine, don’t worry about getting them all coated.

Make stacks out of the potatoes and arrange them vertically, starting at the edge of a 12 to 13-inch (30.5-33 cm) long oval baking dish. Press down lightly to fan them out nicely in the dish as you go along.

Cover the dish with a lid or foil and bake for 1 1/2 hours until the potatoes are tender.

Combine the melted butter and honey and brush over the top of the potatoes. Return to the oven and bake for 20 minutes longer until browned.

Sprinkle with the dukkah and serve with the remaining dukkah on the side.

Hazelnut Dukkah

1 tsp (5 mL) black peppercorns

1 tbsp (15 mL) coriander seeds

2 tsp (10 mL) cumin seeds

1/4 tsp (1 mL) fennel seeds

1 tsp (5 mL) kosher salt

2 tbsp (30 mL) roasted sesame seeds

1/3 cup (80 mL) roasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

In a small, dry frying pan over medium heat, roast the peppercorns, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Remove to a plate.

Add the coriander, cumin and fennel seed to the pan and roast, stirring frequently until the coriander turns a shade darker. Remove to a separate plate.

Grind the peppercorns finely and add to the hazelnuts. Grind the remaining ingredients coarsely and add to the hazelnuts and pepper. Mix well. Store sealed in a cool dark place.

Makes approximately 1/2 cup (125 mL)

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/food/sweet-potatoes-say-cheese/feed1Sweet Potato Columnpostmedianews1Garlic Butter Smashed Sweet Potatoes With Blue CheeseSweet Potatoes with Honey and Dukkah Surprises abound in Alberta’s Drumheller regionhttp://o.canada.com/travel/surprises-abound-in-albertas-drumheller-region
http://o.canada.com/travel/surprises-abound-in-albertas-drumheller-region#respondFri, 20 Oct 2017 21:31:09 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765617]]>“Good morning!” A cheery voice comes from the other end of the line at the hotel front desk. “We’re going to have a surprise visitor in the lobby in five minutes, if you want to bring the kids.”

It’s 8 a.m. in Drumheller, Alta., and we’re staying at the Canalta Jurassic Inn. Since arriving the night before, we’d already been in the mouth of the World’s Largest Dinosaur and visited a dino-themed splash pad. So the chances of this “visitor” having a scaly tail and serrated teeth are pretty good.

Sure enough, a dancing Albertosaurus — a type of tyrannosaur — and his human trainer have popped into the hotel to greet bleary-eyed guests en route to the breakfast room. My husband attempts to lure our terrified sons, 5 and 3, out of the corner for a photo op with the all-too-accurately costumed carnivore. Not happening. But not to worry: Drumheller still has many surprises in store for us today.

Nestled in the Canadian badlands 135 kilometres northeast of Calgary, Drumheller has a varied history that runs deep — literally, as it’s best known for coal mining and fossilized dinosaur remains. But the friendly town of 8,000 and its surrounding area are equally intriguing above the surface. Its otherworldly terrain — peculiar rock formations, steep canyons and terracotta-hued coulees — looks like something straight out of an episode of Star Trek. Or perhaps The Flintstones. It’s no wonder why the area has been the setting for numerous film and TV productions, including The X-Files and Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.

It’s also a prime location for families in search of a vacation spot that’s educational and full of unexpected twists.

A good example of the latter happens to be our first stop of the day. Less than 18 km southwest of town, the road to Horseshoe Canyon looks like any other prairie highway — cows, hay bales, tractors, repeat. And then, one turnoff later, you’re overlooking Canada’s answer to the Grand Canyon. It’s on a smaller scale, of course, but a far cry from farm land. A trail takes you into the canyon so you can explore the sandy landscape up close. But since gravel inclines and three-year-olds don’t mix, we soak in the sun-lit morning view from the overlook and head to our day’s major destination: The Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Named after geologist Joseph Burr Tyrrell (who discovered a dinosaur skull nearby in 1884), the museum has racked up accolades galore in the paleontology world since it opened its doors in 1985 as a solution to the area’s economical woes after its once-hot coal industry collapsed in the late-1940s. It’s a stone’s throw from the town in Midland Provincial Park, which looks and feels like a desert on this particularly dry August day.

“If it gets too hot, I have air conditioning,” our spray bottle-toting tour guide Seija quips as we embark on the museum’s Seven Wonders of the Badlands hike. A lot of our questions about the rocky past of this mysterious area once roamed by dinos are answered on the one-hour trek, best taken at the start of the day if you’re going in the hot summer months. We have to keep a close watch on the boys, since there are hilly spots and small cactus plants on the trail (“Don’t poke the tiny cactus … still pokey,” Seija warns our curious three-year-old). It’s a good primer — and energy-burner — before we toss back a brown bag lunch and head indoors to the museum galleries.

Dinosaur Hall. The Royal Tyrrell Museum houses about a dozen elaborate exhibits at a time [Chris Bruneau]

The Royal Tyrrell houses about a dozen elaborate exhibits at a time, so visitors can spend hours soaking in prehistoric knowledge — from the origins of a Regaliceratops skull resembling Hellboy in the Fossils in Focus exhibit to a tutorial on fossil prep at the lab. But since we’re on toddler time, a Coles Notes version will have to suffice.

Bizarre sea creatures, a massive woolly mammoth skeleton and plenty of interactive displays (it’s all about the buttons and touch screens) keep the kids’ short attention spans at bay until we reach the main attraction: Dinosaur Hall. Its world-renowned reconstructions of authentic and handcrafted dinosaur remains is the stuff our little boys’ prehistoric dreams are made of. To them, it’s like being at a Hollywood red carpet event: “Look, Mom, there’s the Stegosaurus! And the Triceratops!” Commanding the biggest spotlight, of course, is the towering T. Rex. I’m instantly certain no plastic dollar-store version of the Jurassic era’s biggest celeb will ever match up again.

We keep the kids’ enthusiasm going by taking them to the Dinosaur Adventure Hour, where lively instructor Maggie guides them through a craft, lets them hold fossils and puts them to work on an indoor dig. It’s one of numerous classes you can enrol your kids in (others include fossil casting, fossil digs and raptor assembly) to get the most out of their visit. They’re $20 or less, and many are even free. It’s best to book online in advance.

After six solid hours at the museum, we drive back toward town and stop at Fossil World’s gift shop (the popular stop also houses 10 animatronic dinos) for souvenirs in the form of polished rocks before following our grumbling guts southeast of Drumheller to the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne, Alta.

“Are we really taking the kids to a biker bar?” I ask my hubby en route. He nods with enthusiasm as we turn off the highway and drive the six-kilometre stretch to Wayne — which holds the Guinness World Record for most amount of bridges (11) within the shortest distance.

Yes, there are Harleys lining the entrance, but this “biker bar” has a kids menu. It’s located inside a 104-year-old building that also houses a vintage hotel — and it has the most eclectic, extensive array of nostalgic decor we’ve ever seen outside of an American Pickers episode.

Taxidermied animal heads, ancient cookware, old photos, clown figurines, dollar bills from around the globe, retro beverage signs — you name it, it’s on the walls. Perhaps the Last Chance’s most prized possession, though, is a 1940s band box our server tells us is the only one left in the world. And it still works.

We almost forget we came here to eat. My sauerkraut perogies don’t fit the setting but they are tangy and tasty. The boys devour hotdogs and homemade fries, while their dad goes big with the Saloon’s Evolution Burger — a prime rib patty topped with the usual fixings plus onion rings. That and a couple of lagers from local brewery Big Rock (for the parents, not the kids; we aren’t that badass) and we’re off to our day’s final attraction: The hoodoos.

Hoodoos. The quirky rock formations formed by wind, water and sand are so fragile, you could pick the mushroom cap-style top right off and break it. [Chris Bruneau]

Again just a short drive from town, the Badlands’ signature hoodoos look just as unique as they sound. The quirky rock formations formed by wind, water and sand are so fragile, you could pick the mushroom cap-style top right off and break it. In other words, we keep the boys at a safe distance while taking in the stunning sedimentary stacks at sunset before heading back to our Canalta headquarters.

After a day so full of surreal surprises — and famous dinosaur sightings — they were the ones dancing in the hotel lobby this time.

Drumheller by the numbers

75,000,000 — Years since the Late Cretaceous Period, when dinosaurs roamed the area

130,000 (and counting) — Fossils at the Royal Tyrrell Museum

$50,000 — Fines you could face for removing fossils from the area (or one year in jail)

1973, 1979, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2014 — Years residents have reported UFO sightings in the area

139 — Coal mines dotting the region during the rush of the early-1900s

106 — Stairs it takes to get into the mouth of the World’s Largest Dinosaur — a 25-metre T. Rex at the centre of town

11 — Bridges you cross en route to the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne, Alta.

10 feet — Length of an Albertosaurus

5 — Dig sites in Midland Provincial Park, near the museum

On the web:

traveldrumheller.com

travelalberta.com

tyrrellmuseum.com

canaltahotels.com

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/surprises-abound-in-albertas-drumheller-region/feed0DrumhellerlwardpostmediaHorseshoe Canyon — Canada’s answer to the Grand CanyonDinosaur Hall. The Royal Tyrrell Museum houses about a dozen elaborate exhibits at a timeKids dig Dinosaur Adventure Hour at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.Hoodoos. The quirky rock formations formed by wind, water and sand are so fragile, you could pick the mushroom cap-style top right off and break it.Royal Caribbean enticing cruisers back to Caribbeanhttp://o.canada.com/travel/royal-caribbean-enticing-cruisers-back-to-caribbean
http://o.canada.com/travel/royal-caribbean-enticing-cruisers-back-to-caribbean#respondFri, 20 Oct 2017 19:52:15 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765613]]>

Despite the devastation caused to many parts of the Eastern Caribbean, the Caribbean as a whole is still open for business — and Royal Caribbean has ships of all shapes and sizes plying its crystal-clear waters this winter.

Royal Caribbean garnered major points in my book for its recent humanitarian efforts to many of the affected regions of the Caribbean, including the cancellation of an entire sailing aboard Adventure of the Seas so that ship could be redeployed to provide assistance to the citizens of Puerto Rico. With the majority of its fleet cruising the Caribbean this winter, it’s nice to see the company give back to the islands it calls on each season.

Of course, much of the Caribbean depends heavily on tourism for its economic development. As of this writing, only four of Royal Caribbean’s ports of call in the Eastern Caribbean are still closed: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Roseau, Dominica. San Juan is only available as a turnaround port for Adventure of the Seas; ports of call scheduled for San Juan are being replaced for the meantime.

That still leaves much of the Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean open for business — and Royal Caribbean has one great advantage in that it has so many diverse kinds of ships in the Caribbean this year, from the monstrous (but magnificent) Harmony of the Seas; to smaller old friends like 1998’s, which makes her home in Galveston, Texas, this winter.

I personally have a great affinity for some of Royal Caribbean’s older ships. Despite having relatively smaller staterooms, these ships are still winners, with lots of open deck space and fewer passengers than the Oasis Class ships. As if to make them more alluring, Royal Caribbean has them on some great shorter cruises that are perfect for a mini-getaway.

Take my old friend Vision of the Seas, for instance. Royal Caribbean has her doing some really cool four-day runs to Cozumel and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in January and February out of Galveston. While it’s a bit of a drive from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Galveston is relatively easy to get to from much of Canada, and there’s lots to like about these quick four-day runs down to Mexico, which provide just enough time onboard and ashore.

Sister-ship Rhapsody of the Seas is doing some great weeklong runs out of Tampa, Fla., this winter. These visit Key West, Fla., before sailing on to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, with an additional stop in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. In many cases, you can hop on one of these for about US$100 per person, per day.

There’s no denying that Royal Caribbean has some of the largest and most technologically advanced ships afloat. Things don’t get much larger than the line’s three Oasis-class cruise ships: Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas. They carry more than 6,000 passengers apiece at maximum occupancy and offer up some pretty amazing diversions at sea, like elevated bars, ziplines, and — on Harmony of the Seas — the first true waterpark aboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

While Harmony of the Seas commands the highest prices (she’s new, after all), Oasis and Allure of the Seas have got some pretty cool itineraries lined up this winter for those looking to say they’ve cruised on the world’s largest passenger ship.

Oasis of the Seas departs from Port Canaveral (Orlando), while Allure of the Seas sails out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Both ships operate a mix of weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, and Royal Caribbean plans to send them back to ports like Philipsburg, St. Maarten, as soon as the island is ready to welcome them.

These Oasis Class ships are really a destination in their own right. Harmony of the Seas, for example, offers 15 different dining options and over a dozen bars and lounges onboard.

Royal Caribbean is trying hard to attract passengers back to the Caribbean, and is offering some great deals in order to do so. They’re so enticing that while researching this article, I actually booked space on my very own quick Caribbean cruise getaway with the line.

Happy cruising.

Portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-410-4744, www.cruise.center, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly at portsandbowsaaron@gmail.com

Over the years, Steve Smith has developed a system for writing books as his alter-ego Red Green.

“I start with just a list of ideas and I don’t write anything until I have 100 ideas,” says Smith, in an interview from his home in Ontario. “Once I have 100 ideas then I shame myself into writing. I say to myself ‘if you can’t find one thing that you can expand from 100 ideas, you really should be looking for another line of work.’ So I embarrass myself into writing one. When I write one, my other thing is when I write one I have to put two back in. I never feel like I’m starting with a blank page.”

It’s hardly surprising that Smith has settled into a tried-and-true routine when it comes to conjuring up the sarcastic and inept handyman of Possum Lodge. It’s been 27 years since he first came up with the character, initially thinking The Red Green Show would be a short-lived “summer job.”

Now, the 71-year-old comedian is so recognizable as the suspender-wearing booster of duct-tape that it’s hard to separate the actor from the character.

While Red Green’s popularity continues to grow in the U.S., he is generally considered as Canadian as they come. So it’s natural that he would eventually turn his literary eye to the country’s considerable accomplishments. The newly released Woulda Coulda Shoulda Guide to Canadian Inventions (Doubleday Canada, 2017), is a suitably irreverent take on Canadian resourcefulness.

Smith was golfing with Brad Martin, CEO of Penguin Random House Canada, when the idea arose. Why doesn’t Red Green celebrate our sesquicentennial with a take on Canuck inventions?

Smith loved the idea. For one, it took away what he sees as the hardest part of writing.

Steve Smith in The Red Green Show [Handout]

“When I write a book or anything, I don’t have anything to start with,” Smith says. “There’s no setup. You have to create the setup, which is always the hardest part. So here I am starting with a bunch of inventions. Great! And the Red Green take on it was how could have they been used, how they should have been used and we did it better but just a little bit off. That kind of stuff made it fun.”

Woulda Coulda covers dozens of inventions. Some are undeniably cool – basketball, the Canadarm, the goalie mask, the instant replay, the snowmobile, the walkie-talkie, Superman. Some are undeniably vital – insulin, the cardiac pacemaker. Some are undeniably dull, but useful – Pablum, the green garbage bag, egg carton, carbide acetylene. And some tell us perhaps more than we want to know about our national character – Hawaiian pizza, the UFO landing pad, five-pin bowling.

“Talk about giving in, holy cow!” says Smith of five-pin bowling, which seems somewhat unCanadian in its wimpiness. “It is kind of like an entry-level thing for bowling. It’s like tee-ball for bowling.”

Woulda Coulda Shoulda Guide to Canadian Inventions [Doubleday Canada]

Smith, as Green, uncovers some strange side notes to a few of the inventions. George Retzlaff, the producer of Hockey Night in Canada, credited with inventing the instant replay in 1955, got so much flak from CBC brass the first time it was used that he never used it again. The saddest-inventor award goes to Norman Breakey, who came up with the paint roller in 1940 but didn’t have the money to patent it. An American. “swooped in” and beat him to it.

But if there’s a through line, it’s that most of these inventions are sensible, although clearly not all, says Smith.

“They tend not to be frivolous,” Smith says. “There is no silly putty in there. They tend to be pragmatic inventions. Maybe it’s a situation where we sense we have to take care of ourselves. The climate isn’t particularly conducive. We’ve got to have shelter and we’ve got to have machines to make our lives palatable.”

The Red Green Show ran from 1991 to 2006 on CBC and on PBS in the U.S. Smith doesn’t see the show returning, saying he has no interest in reviving the character for the small screen. Thanks to Youtube though, Red Green continues to be popular, including among young people who may or may not even know it was a TV show. Meanwhile, Smith continues to tour various one-man shows as the character, including one he is currently performing in the U.S.

Not bad given the fact Smith had plans to retire outright when The Red Green Show ended in 2006.

“When I retired, my problem was that I was taking out all my creativity on my friends,” Smith says. “They were dropping like flies. I had to get an audience to share the load.”

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/steve-smith-writes-books-as-his-alter-ego-red-green/feed0Red Green-Steve Smithpostmedianews1Steve Smith in The Red Green ShowWoulda Coulda Shoulda Guide to Canadian InventionsCanada tops list of Netflix’s binge-racing countrieshttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/canada-tops-list-of-netflixs-binge-racing-countries
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/canada-tops-list-of-netflixs-binge-racing-countries#respondTue, 17 Oct 2017 13:00:47 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765577]]>When a new season of a show is set to drop on Netflix, do you clear your schedule for the day to watch it? Book the day off work, plan to have all your meals delivered and limit bathroom breaks to a bladder-bursting frequency?

Well, congratulations – you’re a binge-racer, someone who tries to be the first to finish viewing a new batch of episodes within 24 hours of its release. Think of it as beyond binge-watching.

According to a new study from Netflix, 8.4 million of its members have binge-raced at some point. What’s more, the number of binge-racers increased 20 fold between 2013 and 2016, and the accomplishment has become a point of pride.

While binge-racing is happening around the world (one member in France has already raced through 30 shows this year alone), Canada tops the list of countries with the most binge-racers, followed in succession by the United States, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

The shows most likely to be binge-raced globally are, in order: Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Fuller House, Marvel’s The Defenders, The Seven Deadly Sins and The Ranch.

“There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from being the first to finish a story – whether it’s the final page of a book or the last, climactic moments of your favorite TV show.” said Brian Wright, Netflix’s vice president of original series.

“Netflix allows you to watch in a way you never could before, and there’s nothing better than seeing a show engage our members and ignite a passion for viewing.”

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life [Netflix]

Remember, in the days of yore – you know, the as recently as the ’90s – fans had to wait entire weeks to watch episodes. Only on actual television sets. And those unfortunate enough to lack a PVR even had to watch commercials in real time. It’s amazing we survived as a species, really.

Breaking down the data further, Netflix determined that Newfoundland was the province most likely to binge-race in Canada, followed in order by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Manitoba.

And we Canadians are patriotic when it comes to our visual gluttony. Trailer Park Boys, the shenanigan-filled comedy set in Nova Scotia, is the top series we binge-race. (Though that series debuted on Showcase, and Netflix co-produced it beginning with season 8 in 2014. Season 12 is reportedly on the way.)

The rest of the Top 5 binge-raced shows in Canada are also global favourites: Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life ranks No. 2, then Fuller House, The Ranch and Marvel’s The Defenders.

Fuller House [Netflix]

Below, the 20 most binge-raced shows in the world:

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Fuller House

Marvel’s The Defenders

The Seven Deadly Sins

The Ranch

Santa Clarita Diet

Trailer Park Boys

F is for Family

Orange Is the New Black

Stranger Things

Friends from College

Atypical

Grace and Frankie

Wet Hot American Summer

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

House of Cards

Love

GLOW

Chewing Gum

Master of None

The Top 20 binge-racing countries:

Canada

United States

Denmark

Finland

Norway

Germany

Mexico

Australia

Sweden

Brazil

Ireland

United Kingdom

France

New Zealand

Peru

Netherlands

Chile

Portugal

Italy

United Arab Emirates

The Top 20 binge-raced shows in Canada:

Trailer Park Boys

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Fuller House

The Ranch

Marvel’s The Defenders

Santa Clarita Diet

The Seven Deadly Sins

F is for Family

Grace and Frankie

Friends from College

Wet Hot American Summer

Stranger Things

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Cuckoo

Love

Atypical

Orange Is the New Black

Master of None

Chewing Gum

Luther

[]

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/canada-tops-list-of-netflixs-binge-racing-countries/feed0Trailer Park Boysmhank2012Gilmore Girls: A Year in the LifeFuller HouseNetflix Binge-Racer HacksGlobal Voices: Artificial intelligence sparks debate about justicehttp://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-artificial-intelligence-sparks-debate-about-justice
http://o.canada.com/life/global-voices-artificial-intelligence-sparks-debate-about-justice#respondTue, 17 Oct 2017 08:02:19 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=765557]]>Brisha Borden was walking through her suburban Florida neighbourhood when she spotted an unlocked bike. She took it for a block-long joy ride before dropping it.

It was too late. The cops were already on their way.

Charged with petty theft, the 18-year-old might have been let off with a warning. Instead, when her file was run through state software designed to predict recidivism rates, Borden was rated high-risk and her bond was set at $1,000.

She didn’t have an adult criminal record. Algorithms predicted her likelihood to reoffend based on her race — Borden is black.

Will a machine dispense blind justice, or can robots be racist?

Since the early 2000s, various state courts have used computer programs and machine learning to inform decisions on bail and sentencing. On paper, this makes sense. With prison populations ballooning across the U.S., artificial intelligence promises to take the human bias out of judgements, creating a fairer legal system — in theory.

Looking into 7,000 risk assessments, Pro Publica concluded the programs have mistakenly targeted black defendants. The report isolated other factors, like criminal history, age and gender — black defendants were still 77 per cent more likely to be labelled high-risk of violent crime compared with white defendants.

“We like to think that computers will save us,” says software producer and diversity advocate Shana Bryant. “But we seem to forget that algorithms are written by humans.”

Even code is embedded with social bias.

“The main ingredient [in artificial intelligence] is data,” explains Parinaz Sobhani, director of machine learning for Georgian Partners. The more information is fed through algorithms, the more precise the patterns and predications become.

Even code is embedded with social bias.

“The question is, where is the data coming from?”

We are at the dawn of the age of artificial intelligence. And to make sure machines don’t mimic society’s implicit prejudices, we need people from all backgrounds coding them.

Borden’s case of algorithmic injustice is just one example. Machine learning is heralded as the future of everything from policing to healthcare.

But making fair machines depends on our ability to supply fair data. In Canada, for instance, indigenous people are overwhelmingly overrepresented in prison populations. Meanwhile, a persistent wage gap remains between women and men. If we don’t address the systemic failings surrounding these problems, we can’t expect machines to fix them while working with the same data.

Socially corrupt data massively failed an early image-recognition software designed by Google that categorized black people as gorillas. The program, meant to sort photos based on their subjects, was tested exclusively on white people. The tech sector, despite many efforts to the contrary, remains overwhelmingly white and male.

“If we don’t have a diverse group of people building technology, it will only serve a very small percentage of people: those who built it,” explains Melissa Sariffodeen, co-founder and CEO of Ladies Learning Code.

That’s why questions about who gets hired in the tech sector are about more than equality in the workforce.

“We are at a nexus point,” explains Bryant. If we don’t prioritize diverse voices in these emerging technologies, the future will have robots — but no less prejudice.

Humanitarians, activists and social entrepreneurs, brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger are co-founders of WE, an organization that makes doing good, doable. WE works with developing communities in nine countries, and empowers youth in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom by connecting them with global issues and social causes. WE Day is the annual celebration of these young change-makers, held in more than 15 cities worldwide.

Marc and Craig are syndicated columnists and authors of more than 10 books, including The World Needs Your Kid, and the New York Times bestseller Me to We. Their work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as on CNN, BBC, 60 Minutes and The Today Show, and in People, Time and The Economist